Aim: This study investigates the relationship between personality dimensions and job satisfaction.
Background: The shortage of nurses, and those voluntarily leaving their jobs, continues to be a problem affecting the delivery of healthcare all over the world, including anaesthesia. If it is found that nurse anaesthetists with certain personality types have high levels of job satisfaction, the information may be helpful for the retention of nurse anaesthetists.
Methods: A questionnaire was distributed amongst Dutch nurse anaesthetists. Factor and multiple regression analyses were performed to reveal personality dimensions and their impact on job satisfaction.
Results: Nine hundred and twenty-three questionnaires were completed and analysed (46% response rate). Two personality dimensions -'easy going' and 'orderly'- explained 3.5% of the variance in job satisfaction.
Conclusion: Personality dimensions as measured with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) are only minimally relevant in predicting job satisfaction amongst Dutch nurse anaesthetists.
Implications for nursing management: Before using personality traits as a selection tool for retaining employees, it is important to understand the relationship of particular personalities to job satisfaction; it is also important to know which combination of personality traits is likely to create a highly cohesive work group.