Medscape surveyed 10,284 nurses about the most and least satisfying aspects of their jobs and published the results in its Nurse Career Satisfaction Report 2018.
Medscape surveyed 5,011 registered nurses, 2,006 nurse practitioners, 2,002 licensed practical nurses, 501 clinical nurse specialists, 389 nurse managers and 375 certified registered nurse anesthetists.
How nurses weighed in:
Most rewarding job aspects
Helping people/making a difference
1. RNs: 40 percent
2. LPNs: 44 percent
3. NP: 47 percent
4. NM: 50 percent
5. CRNA: 21 percent
6. CNS: 41 percent
Working at a job I like
7. RNs: 11 percent
8. LPNs: 10 percent
9. NP: 11 percent
10. NM: 13 percent
11.CRNA: 17 percent
12. CNS: 11 percent
Being very good at what I do
13. RNs: 11 percent
14. LPNs: 9 percent
15. NP: 7 percent
16. NM: 8 percent
17.CRNA: 17 percent
18. CNS: 12 percent
Being proud of being a nurse/advanced practice nurse or my nursing care
19. RNs: 10 percent
20. LPNs: 12 percent
21. NP: 6 percent
22. NM: 2 percent
23.CRNA: 6 percent
24. CNS: 5 percent
Gratitude/relationships with patients
25. RNs: 8 percent
26. LPNs: 13 percent
27. NP: 12 percent
28. NM: 14 percent
29.CRNA: 6 percent
30. CNS: 5 percent
Relationships with coworkers/working as a team
31. RNs: 7 percent
32. LPNs: 4 percent
Being respected by my colleagues and collaborators
33. NP: 3 percent
34. NM: 2 percent
35.CRNA: 4 percent
36 CNS: 5 percent
Opportunity to work in a variety of settings and places
37. RNs: 5 percent
38. LPNs: 3 percent
Working to the full extent of my education, certification and licensure
39. NP: 9 percent
40. NM: 8 percent
41.CRNA: 21 percent
42. CNS: 14 percent
Least satisfying job aspects
Administration/workplace politics
43. RNs: 24 percent
44. LPNs: 22 percent
45. NP: 15 percent
46. NM: 17 percent
47.CRNA: 19 percent
48. CNS: 33 percent
The amount of documentation I'm required to complete (paper and EHR)
49. RNs:13 percent
50. LPNs: 1 percent
51. NP: 20 percent
52. NM: 13 percent
53.CRNA: 8 percent
54. CNS: 13 percent
The patient load — patient to nurse ratios too high
55. RNs: 9 percent
56. LPNs: 11 percent
Insufficient time to spend with patients
57. RNs: 6 percent
58. LPNs: 6 percent
59. NP: 14 percent
60. NM: 17 percent
61.CRNA: 3 percent
62. CNS: 4 percent
Compensation
63. RNs: 9 percent
64. LPNs: 14 percent
65. NP: 6 percent
66. NM: 7 percent
67.CRNA: 3 percent
68. CNS: 8 percent
Emphasis on patient satisfaction as the highest priority
69. RNs: 7 percent
70. LPNs: 3 percent
Lack of respect from physicians, managers or peers/colleagues
71. RNs: 7 percent
72. LPNs: 8 percent
73. NP: 6 percent
74. NM: 6 percent
75.CRNA: 13 percent
76. CNS: 8 percent
Emotional demands
77. RNs: 3 percent
78. LPNs: 4 percent
Not being able to practice to the full extent of my education, certification and licensure
80. NP: 6 percent
81. NM: 7 percent
82.CRNA: 21 percent
83. CNS: 8 percent
Time spent dealing with insurance companies/authorizations
84. NP: 9 percent
85. NM: 4 percent
86.CRNA: 1 percent
87. CNS: 4 percent
The requirement for collaborating physician/collaborative practice agreement
88. NP: 5 percent
89. NM: 5 percent
90.CRNA: 5 percent
91 . CNS: 2 percent