A review of the nursing literature provides
a number of hypotheses regarding levels
among nurses of role ambiguity (uncertainty regarding others' expectations) and
role conflict (incompatible demands from
various role senders or from multiple roles
held simultaneously). Questionnaire data
collected from 504 registered staff nurses,
licensed practical nurses, nurses aides and
head nurses/supervisors in five hospitals
failed to provide much support for these
hypotheses. Although levels ofrole conflict
and ambiguity were low for most nurses,
they were significantly related to job stress,
organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and intentions to quit.
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