Nursing Faculty Job Satisfaction During COVID-19: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

Abstract AIM The aim of this study was to understand stress, resilience, and compassion satisfaction of nursing faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify factors related to their job satisfaction. BACKGROUND The impacts of COVID-19 on faculty stress, resilience, compassion satisfaction, and job satisfaction were unknown. METHOD A mixed-methods survey was distributed electronically to nursing faculty in the United States. RESULTS Compassion satisfaction and resilience were positively correlated with job satisfaction; stress and job satisfaction were negatively correlated. Feeling safe to teach, feeling supported by administration, and spending more hours teaching online were positively associated with job satisfaction. Three themes were identified: challenges in the workplace, struggles with personal stressors, and building capacity in the face of the unknown. CONCLUSION Faculty reported a strong professional commitment to nursing education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Leadership that supported faculty through concern for their safety contributed to participants’ ability to respond to the challenges experienced.