"Allt sitter liksom i magen och hjärtat på något sätt"

: en kvalitativ studie om undersköterskors upplevelser av sin psykosociala arbetsmiljö

Abstract

Among assistant nurses in the elderly care setting, the health-promoting perspective may be preferable to reduce the risk of a poor psychosocial work environment. Previous studies showed that work motivation increase if both well-being and job satisfaction exist. The aim of this study was to investigate how assistant nurses experience their psychosocial work environment from a health promoting perspective. The study had a qualitative approach with focus group interviews as a method. In total, three focus group interviews were performed with assistant nurses at two different elderly homes. There were 19 participants in the study. The analysis showed three themes that illustrated important aspects of the psychosocial environment. The categories were work motivation, a committed leadership and job satisfaction. The assistants nurses were generally satisfied with their working environment. They described a good fellowship at work and experienced a balance between the demands placed on them and the available resources. The results also showed that the workplace leadership was of great importance for the well-being of the staff. Most assistant nurses considered the nursing work with caretakers meaningful and that it felt motivating to help others. Since their workplaces are constantly being met by saving demands through hard-pressed budgets and organizational changes, a focus on the work environment of assistent nurses is recommended. Prior to future health promotion interventions in the elderly care, it is important to increase the well-being of the staff and to continue to find solutions for a sustainable quality of care.