Examination of the relationship between professional commitment and job satisfaction levels and affecting variables in pediatric nurses during the pandemic process

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to define the relationship between commitment to the profession and job satisfaction levels of pediatric nurses working during the pandemic and to examine the variables they are affected by in this process. Materials and Methods: The research is an analytical and cross-sectional type of study. The sample of the research is İzmir S.B.Ü Dr. It consisted of 213 nurses working at Behçet Uz Pediatric Diseases and Surgery Training and Research Hospital during the pandemic period. The data of the study were collected with the Nurse Introduction Form, Nursing Professional Commitment Scale, McCloskey and Mueller Job Satisfaction Scale. In the analysis of the data, number percentage distribution and descriptive statistics were performed to describe demographic characteristics. The suitability of the data for normal distribution was checked with the Kolmogorov Simirnov normality test (Nursing profession commitment scale K-S: 0.101; p: 0.000; McCloskey and Mueller job satisfaction scale K-S: 0.075; p: 0.006). Since the data did not show a normal distribution, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis test and Spearman correlation analysis were used. Results: It was found that the average age of the 213 nurses participating in the study was 32.42±5.48, the average number of shifts per month was 7.63±3.12, and the average daily rest period was 2.36±1.17. 78.9% of the nurses were female, 42.3% worked in the intensive care unit, 52.1% worked as service nurses, 91.1% worked day and night, 78.4% chose the profession willingly, 74.6% 56.3% of them chose the department they work in willingly, 56.3% are satisfied with their job, 56.8% are considering changing their profession, 54.9% do not use cigarettes/alcohol/drugs, 64.3% say their income is equal to their expenses. The average score of the nurses on the Nursing Professional Commitment Scale was found to be 70.52±13.96. The average score of nurses on the McCloskey and Mueller job satisfaction scale was determined as 2.57±0.72. Conclusion: As a result of the research, it was determined that the professional commitment and job satisfaction of pediatric nurses working during the pandemic period were at medium levels. Key Words: Pandemic, COVID-19, Nursing, Commitment to Profession, Job Satisfaction