The perceived roles of nursing deans in supporting organizational climates and promoting faculty members' job satisfaction

Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the roles of nursing deans in supporting organizational climates and promoting faculty members' job satisfaction. The relationships between the two concepts were also explored. Moreover, this research examined the concepts of organizational climate and faculty members' job satisfaction in relation to sample's characteristics of: gender, marital status, time commitment, academic rank, level of education, years of appointment at the university, age, years of experience in teaching, years of experience in clinical nursing, number of faculty members at the nursing school, number of students enrolled/year as perceived by faculty members, and total salary. Methods and Sample: In 2004 and after getting the approvals of the nursing deans, data were collected using survey method over two months. A convenient sample of 82 faculty members was recruited from 5 public universities. The response rate was 59%. Results: Nursing faculty members perceived that it "often occurs" that the nursing deans create supportive organizational climates. Also, faculty members were "neutral" in their opinions about the roles the nursing deans have in promoting their faculty members'job satisfaction. Conclusions: Deans have effective roles in creating supportive organizational climates, and promoting their faculty members' job satisfaction; however, these roles should be expanded.