Service unit management and nurses' satisfaction.

Nurses' satisfaction was compared in 55 patient units, 32 with service unit management (SUM) and 23 without. Satisfaction of licensed practical nurses was unrelated to SUM, but intrinsic task satisfaction of registered nurses (and of head nurses, who were considered separately) was positively related to the presence of SUM. Transfer of nonprofessional tasks out of nursing and reduction of tension arising from reduced responsibility of nurses for coordinating activities with ancillary departments are possible explanations for the positive relation between the presence of SUM and professional nurses' satisfaction.