Exploring the Relationship Between Professional Values of Nurses and Job Satisfaction Among Registered Nurses in Public and Private Healthcare Setups of Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Professional values guide nurses’ ethical conduct, accountability and patient advocacy and may be associated with their satisfaction with nursing work. Objective: To determine the relationship between professional values and job satisfaction among registered nurses working in public and private healthcare settings in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 230 nurses selected through convenience sampling from Fatima Memorial Hospital and the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences. Professional values were assessed using a 25-item questionnaire, and job satisfaction was evaluated using seven items. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation were applied. Results: All participants were women, and 150 (65.2%) had 6–10 years of experience. Justice had the highest professional-values mean item score (4.27), followed by professionalism (3.91), whereas activism had the lowest score (3.24). Protection of public health and safety received the highest individual professional-value score (4.47 ± 0.50). The derived mean job-satisfaction score was 30.17 of 35, with remuneration receiving the highest item score (4.52 ± 0.50). Professional values and job satisfaction were strongly positively correlated ((r=0.946), 95% CI 0.931–0.958; (p<0.001)). Conclusion: Stronger professional-values scores were associated with higher job-satisfaction scores. Longitudinal and multicentre studies are required to confirm the relationship and examine organizational determinants.