The hospital organization as the staff see it

BACKGROUND: Reorganisation has become the slogan of how to improve health service without increasing expenses. The question is whether we have the knowledge necessary to build good hospital organisations. The inside information of staff members is one important source for information about hospital organisation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Foundation for Health Services Research performed surveys among doctors, nurses and auxiliaries in Norwegian hospitals in 1998, 2000 and 2001. The questionnaire maps the following dimensions of hospital work: general job satisfaction, workload, leadership, work organisation, professional and personal feedback, competence, continuity, cooperation and architecture. This article presents data from the 2000 study. RESULTS: About 75% out of 1,832 respondents claim to be satisfied with their jobs, nurses more so than doctors. Small hospitals are experienced as a better place to work than large ones in nearly all respects. Younger employees and staff with a foreign cultural background are less satisfied with their jobs, work organisation and skills. Leadership, professional development as well as personal and professional support seem to be important for job satisfaction in hospitals. Different organisational features motivate doctors and nursing staff. INTERPRETATION: Hospitals seems to be organised for experienced and Norwegian staff. The actual situation is high personnel turnover with young, inexperienced and mobile health professionals.