Nursing professional practice environments and job satisfaction: process and outcome interfaces.

Objectives: to assess the process and outcome of professional nursing practice environments and their relationship with job satisfaction.

Methods: a cross-sectional study conducted in eight hospitals in southern Brazil. Participants were 291 nurses who answered a sociodemographic/professional questionnaire, the Scale for the Environment Evaluation of Professional Nursing Practice, and the Job Satisfaction Survey. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was used.

Results: in process, theoretical and legal support of professional practice and care planning, evaluation and continuity presented the highest scores, while interdependent practices in professional practice obtained the lowest. Outcome was favorable to quality of care, with systematic assessment of nursing care and indicators being very favorable, but systematic assessment of nurses' performance and supervision was moderate. Process had a large effect, and outcome had a medium effect on the total job satisfaction score.

Conclusions: the process and outcome elements indicate how to promote professional satisfaction and nursing quality of care.