Abstract
This study compared the ideal job satisfaction and perceived job satisfaction levels of patient care providers from labor and delivery, coronary intensive care, pediatric outpatient, and perioperative areas. Of the 243 surveys distributed, 112 (46%) patient care providers responded. The respondents included registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, patient care assistants, and a scrub technician. A dependent t test revealed a statistically significant difference in the providers' ideal job satisfaction and perceived job satisfaction (t = 16.66, df = 87, p = < .001). The mean ideal satisfaction as compared to the mean perceived satisfaction was 88.70 to 65.65.