This study explored variables which elicited high levels of job satisfaction among Filipino staff nurses employed in three Eastern hospitals of the United States between 1980 and 1990. The type of organizational work environment, work-related factors, and different job satisfaction criteria were examined for their effect on the level of job satisfaction.

The literature review included historical background of the nursing shortage, Filipino cultural values, and a discussion of process and content theories of motivation. Additionally, studies were analyzed for variables influencing levels of job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction for nurses in general, and specifically for Filipino nurses.

This study is based on a convenience sample of 61 Filipino nurses working in community and municipal hospitals. All data were collected by a series of questionnaires completed by the nurses. The personal data questionnaire asked for basic demographic information, as well as the work environment. Nurses also completed the Stamps and Piedmonte Index of Work Satisfaction, an attitude scale which addressed six components of job satisfaction: autonomy, organizational policies, pay, task requirements, interaction, and professional status.

The internal consistency of the work satisfaction scales ranged from.48 to.80; the status scale had the lowest estimated reliability. Correlations were used to examine relationships among variables, t-test and analyses of variance were used to examine differences among groups, and multiple regression analyses were computed to find the best predictors of job satisfaction.

Significant findings were: (1) nurses in community hospitals were more satisfied with task, salary, and autonomy; (2) task, autonomy, and policy best explained Filipino nurses' job satisfaction; (3) older nurses were more satisfied with salary, task requirements, and policy, as well as more satisfied overall; (4) tenure in nursing was the best predictor of interaction; (5) hospital size was the best predictor of autonomy; and (6) year degree completed was the best predictor of job satisfaction as measured by salary and also more satisfied overall.