| The predicted future operating room nurse and surgical technologist shortages may have significant implications for the healthcare industry. Improving the job satisfaction of operating room personnel could promote retention and provide adequate staffing in operating rooms. The job satisfaction of operating room nurses and surgical technologists can result in positive or negative work environments. The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of job satisfaction of operating room nurses and surgical technologists to discover how job satisfaction influences the intent to leave or remain in the work environment of the operating room. A purposive selection was made of 12 registered nurses and 12 surgical technologists who had varying degrees of experience in the healthcare field, and were working part time or full time in the operating room of a pediatric medical center in North, Texas. Interviews were audio-recorded and the seven steps were used from Moustakas van Kaam analysis to reveal themes and patterns from the research data. Six themes emerged from the research study that included teamwork, recognition from surgeon, working with pediatric patients and their families, staff appreciation, work environment, and executive leadership. Based on the findings, further research is needed to ascertain strategies that would improve operating room registered nurses and surgical technologists' job satisfaction and retention. |
