Nurses' satisfaction with their work environment and the outcomes of clinical nursing supervision on nursesÕ experiences of well-being – a Norwegian study INGRID BE ´ GAT MNSc, RNT 1 , BODIL ELLEFSEN RNT, Dr Polit 2 and ELISABETH SEVERINSSON MNSc, RPN, DrPH 3 1 Midwife and Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Health and Culture, University Trollha ¨ ttan-Uddevalla, Sweden and Doctoral Student, Institute of Nursing Science, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway, 2 Professor, Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway and 3 Professor, Department of Health Studies, Stavanger University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway Correspondence Ingrid Be ´gat Nordskogsva ¨gen 4 SE-451 91 Uddevalla Sweden E-mail: ibegat@telia.com BE ´ GAT I., ELLEFSEN B. & SEVERINSSON E. (2005) Journal of Nursing Management 13, 221–230 Nurses' satisfaction with their work environment and the outcomes of clinical nursing supervision on nurses' experiences of well-being – a Norwegian study Background Various studies have demonstrated that nursing is stressful and that the incidence of occupational stress-related burnout in the profession is high. Aim This descriptive-correlational study examined nursesÕ satisfaction with their psychosocial work environment, their moral sensitivity and differences in outcomes of clinical nursing supervision in relation to nursesÕ well-being by systematically comparing supervised and unsupervised nurses. Methods Nurses were selected from two hospitals (n ¼ 71). Data collection was by means of questionnaires and analysed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Results The nursesÕ satisfaction with their psychosocial work environment was reflected in six factors: Ôjob stress and anxietyÕ, Ôrelationship with colleaguesÕ, Ôcollaboration and good communicationÕ, Ôjob motivationÕ, Ôwork demandsÕ and Ôprofessional developmentÕ. The nursesÕ perceptions of moral sensitivity comprised seven factors: Ôgrounds for actionsÕ, Ôethical conflictsÕ, Ôvalues in careÕ, Ôinde- pendence patient-oriented careÕ, Ôthe desire to provide high-quality careÕ and Ôthe desire to provide high-quality care creates ethical dilemmasÕ. Nurses well-being were reflected in four factors Ôphysical symptom and anxietyÕ, Ôfeelings of not being in controlÕ, Ôengagement and motivationÕ and Ôeye strain sleep disturbanceÕ. The moral sensitivity Ôethical conflictsÕ were found to have mild negative corre- lations with psychosocial work environment Ôjob stress and anxiety professional developmentÕ and with Ôtotal scoreÕ psychosocial work, moral sensitivity factor Ôindependence were correlated with psychosocial work factor Ôrelationships with colleaguesÕ and Ôtotal scoreÕ, moral sensitivity were mildly correlated with Ôcol- laboration and good communication and had a negative correlation to psycho- social work factor Ôwork demandsÕ. In addition, significant correlations were found between the nursesÕ well-being profile and demographic variables, between Ôengagement and motivationÕ and Ôabsence due to illnessÕ and between Ôtime allocation for tasksÕ, Ôphysical symptoms and anxietyÕ and ÔageÕ. Mild significant differences were found between nurses attending and not attending group supervision and between Ôphysical symptoms and anxietyÕ and Ôfeelings of not being in controlÕ. Journal of Nursing Management, 2005, 13, 221–230 ª 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 221