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Do Personality Traits Predict Work Outcomes of Certified Nursing Assistants?

Research in Gerontological Nursing 

By Christine R. Kovach, PhD, RN, FAAN ; Michelle R. Simpson, PhD, RN; Amy B. Reitmaier, MS, RN; Addie Johnson, BA; Sheryl T. Kelber, MS

Received: September 30, 2008; Accepted: October 5, 2009; Posted: April 30, 2010

The purposes of this study were to describe personality traits of certified nursing assistants (CNAs) employed at nursing homes and explore relationships between personality traits, job satisfaction, and job performance. The sample included 177 CNAs providing direct care to residents in three nursing homes. CNAs with high and low job performance skills were distinguished by the cluster of traits associated with teamwork skills. Overall, 21.3% of the variance in job satisfaction was explained by the personality traits of Adjustment, Prudence, Likeability, Excitable, and Dutiful, F(8, 145) = 4.899, p < 0.001. The links found between personality, job satisfaction, and job performance provide important information about the personality traits of nursing staff who are most likely to enjoy and perform well in the nursing home setting. Knowledge of these links may be useful for hiring the appropriate person for direct care nursing home positions.

doi:10.3928/19404921-20100330-03