Table 4 Percentage distribution of each item in the job satisfaction scale, Jimma zone public hospitals, southwest Ethiopia, 2014

Pay (salary) you receive

189

59.8

69

21.8

46

14.6

12

3.8

Annual leave you receive from the hospital

69

21.8

104

32.9

116

36.7

27

8.5

Sick leave you receive from the hospital

77

24.4

83

26.3

119

37.7

37

11.7

Hours that you work in the hospital

73

23.1

63

19.9

129

40.8

51

16.1

Flexibility in scheduling your working hours

65

20.6

82

25.9

134

42.4

35

11.1

Your satisfaction in your shift rotation

51

16.1

72

22.8

143

45.3

50

15.8

Flexibility in scheduling your weekends off

117

37.0

84

26.6

88

27.8

27

8.5

Compensation for working weekends and holidays

126

39.9

85

26.9

90

28.5

15

4.7

Opportunity for part-time work

116

36.7

92

29.1

79

25.0

29

9.2

Maternity leave time given by the hospital

34

10.8

52

16.5

147

46.5

83

26.3

Interaction with your nursing peers

21

6.6

51

16.1

152

48.1

92

29.1

Interaction with the physicians you work with

47

14.9

86

27.2

134

42.4

49

15.5

Availability of medical equipment/supplies to deliver nursing care in your unit

113

35.8

100

31.6

81

25.6

22

7.0

Satisfaction with the nursing care given to your clients

28

8.9

60

19.0

148

46.8

80

25.3

Opportunities for social contact with your colleagues after work

49

15.5

80

25.3

151

47.8

36

11.4

Opportunities for interact professionally with other disciplines

60

19.0

101

32.0

125

39.6

30

9.5

Opportunities for further education/degree or postgraduate study in nursing

134

42.4

75

23.7

73

23.1

34

10.8

Opportunities to participate in morning rounds

73

23.1

86

27.2

112

35.4

45

14.2

Opportunities to participate in nursing research

210

66.5

70

22.2

28

8.9

8

2.5

Opportunities to write and publish

255

80.7

36

11.4

18

5.7

7

2.2

Recognition from your head nurse

46

14.6

84

26.6

135

42.7

51

16.1

Recognition for your work from superiors

95

30.1

98

31.0

98

31.0

25

7.9

Recognition for your work from peers

35

11.1

64

20.3

152

48.1

65

20.6

Encouragement and positive feedback from matron

100

31.6

93

29.4

86

27.2

37

11.7

Opportunity to make autonomous nursing care decisions

62

19.6

85

26.9

128

40.5

41

13.0

Opportunities for on-the-job training

184

58.2

62

19.6

52

16.5

18

5.7

Responsibility in the unit/ward

40

12.7

69

21.8

134

42.4

72

23.1

Your control over conditions in your working unit

39

12.3

62

19.6

151

47.8

64

20.3

Consideration given to your opinion and suggestions for change in the work setting or office practice

58

18.4

88

27.8

128

40.5

42

13.3