Strategies and Best Practices to Improve Job Satisfaction and Determine Optimum Workload for Nurses in Texas Long-Term Care Facilities

Long-term care facilities have experienced a workforce crisis for years. This workforce primarily encompasses direct care workers that include registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). This integrative review searched empirical and non empirical literature within the past five years related to long-term care facilities nurses’ perceptions of the impact of workload on job satisfaction. The study employed the Job Demand-Control (JDC) framework to determine the demand and control measures influencing LTC nurse job satisfaction. The literature search revealed five main themes which included: reduced workload, improved workplace environment, organizational support, development opportunities, and CNA well-being. The 11 subthemes included: staff autonomy, adequate staffing, patient-to-nurse ratio, work-life balance, adequate resources, psychosocial support, increased work motivation, advancement opportunities, CNA autonomous decision, and CNA peer support. Results indicated the need for organizational support, workplace autonomy, and peer collaboration. Recommendations for future research focused on conducting longitudinal studies to determine workload and job satisfaction over time. Additionally, by exploring unmeasured variables, outcomes may influence job satisfaction, economic factors, personal stressors, and external societal changes, which will result in positive social change.