Association Between Nurses’ Job Satisfaction and Self-Reported Patient-Centered Care Competence

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between nurses’ job satisfaction and their patient-centered care competence, and to identify factors associated with these variables.Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with 336 nurses working in a city hospital in Istanbul between April and July 2026. Data were collected using a Descriptive Characteristics Form, the Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS), and the Patient-Centered Care Competence Scale (PCCS). Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction, and Pearson correlation analysis were used for data analysis. Results: The mean Job Satisfaction Scale score was 55.71 ± 9.14, indicating moderate job satisfaction. The mean Patient-Centered Care Competence Scale score was 68.51 ± 9.04, reflecting a relatively high level of competence. A moderate, positive correlation was found between job satisfaction and patient-centered care competence (r = 0.495; p < 0.001). Nurses who received patient-centered care training had significantly higher job satisfaction scores (p < 0.05). Patient-centered care competence differed significantly according to nurses’ perceived professional competence (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate that higher job satisfaction is associated with greater patient-centered care competence among nurses. Supporting nurses’ job satisfaction and providing patient-centered care training may enhance the quality of care. Healthcare administrators should consider strategies aimed at improving working conditions and professional development opportunities to strengthen both job satisfaction and patient-centered care competence.