Relationship between Job Satisfaction, Pay, Affective Commitment and Turnover Intention among Registered Nurses in Nigeria

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between job satisfaction, pay, affective commitment, and turnover intentions of public hospitals-based Registered Nurses in Ondo State, Nigeria. Using the quantitative, cross-sectional survey design, data from 220 Registered Nurses were analysed. Results indicate that pay and job satisfaction have significant positive relationship with nurses’ affective commitment; pay has significant positive relationship with their job satisfaction but pay, job satisfaction and affective commitment have negative relationship with turnover intentions. Job satisfaction is of critical importance in gaining nurses’ affective commitment and enhancing retention. Pay is often considered as a hygiene factor in theories of motivation – meaning, even though pay decreases might cause dissatisfaction, pay increases would not increase satisfaction. This does not appear to be the case in Nigeria. These findings have implications for health human resource management in general and the management of nursing staff in the public hospitals of Ondo State, Nigeria in particular.