Factors associated with job satisfaction among nurses in an emergency department: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Introduction: Nurses’ job satisfaction is an essential indicator of the functioning of healthcare systems, being associated with professionals’ well-being, quality of care, and patient safety. In emergency departments, characterized by high complexity, workload pressure, clinical unpredictability, and resource constraints, nurses are particularly exposed to stressors and professional strain, which may compromise their job satisfaction. Objectives: To map and synthesize the existing scientific evidence on factors associated with job satisfaction among nurses working in emergency departments. Methods: A scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the methodological guidance of the Joanna Briggs Institute and reported following the PRISMA-ScR checklist. The research question will be structured according to the PCC framework: population (nurses), concept (job satisfaction), and context (emergency departments). The scoping review will be carried out between January and March 2026 (provisional timeframe). The search will be conducted in the APA Psyinfo, PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, Lens.ORg and CINAHL databases. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies addressing nurses’ job satisfaction in emergency department settings will be included. Study selection will be performed by two independent reviewers, with data extraction and narrative synthesis of the results. Results: This review is expected to identify individual, professional, and organizational factors associated with job satisfaction, as well as gaps in the existing literature. Conclusion: This scoping review will try to contribute to an integrated understanding of the determinants of job satisfaction among emergency department nurses, supporting improvements in management practices, working conditions, and the quality of nursing care.