Decent work in nursing: Relationship between nursing work environment, job satisfaction, and physical and mental health

Abstract Aim To examine the relationship between nursing work environment, nurses' perception of decent work, job satisfaction, and physical and mental health. Background According to the psychology of working theory, work‐related and overall well‐being levels of employees with decent work increase as their basic needs are met. Methods This study was conducted as a cross‐sectional, correlational study. The study sample consisted of 311 nurses working in two hospitals in a province of Turkey. The participants were selected using convenience sampling method. The model of the research was analyzed using structural equation modeling. This study was reported using the STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies. Results The four dimensions of the nursing work environment were found to have a significant relationship with decent work. Decent work was found to have a direct relationship with physical and mental health. It had an indirect relationship between three subscales of work environment and physical and mental health, however, decent work had no significant relationship with job satisfaction. Conclusions The findings of this study indicated the role of decent work environment and its relationship with nurses’ physical and mental health. Implications for nursing and health policy Nurse managers, policy makers, and decision‐makers at all levels should improve nursing work environment and working conditions.