Objective: To determine the impact of implementation of Alaris infusion pump system on nursing staff satisfaction.

Sample: 691 licensed practical and registered nurses at a tertiary medical center in the southern United States.

Method: Survey assessing demographic characteristics and a 30 item Likert Scale of Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree to assess perceptions of nurses regarding the implementation of the infusion pump system and its impact on nursing care provided and job satisfaction. Validity and reliability (alpha=.772) were established through pre-testing and testing of the instrument and expert consultants.

Results: Of the 691 respondents, 62.34% were ages 31-50; 41.51% were associate degree or diploma graduates and 38.85% were BSN graduates. Over 70% indicated no prior experience with pumps and nearly 50% had graduated more than 10 years from their last nursing program. Associations with job satisfaction were found with age (X²=26.838, df=16, p=.043), years on the nursing unit (X²=35.025, df=20, p=.020); ratings of the management team (X²=67.437, df=12, p<.000); promotion of safe nursing practice (X²=118.924, df=16, p<.000), among others. Regression analysis suggests the strongest significant effect results from "personal feelings" regarding job satisfaction with the pump implementation (Adj R²=0.487, p<.00) and using Anova there is a significant difference in the mean job satisfaction using the ratings of the management team (F=22.285, df=661, p<.000), ratings of the nursing staff (F=11.665, df=660, p<.000), highest degree earned (F=3.041, df=658, p=.006), and promotion of safe nursing practice (F=28.812, df=599, p<0.000).

Conclusions: The prevailing tendencies are for higher job satisfaction based on personal feelings and given higher ratings of the management team, higher ratings of the nursing staff, higher education attained, and higher perception of the intravenous infusion pump being designed to promote safe nursing practices.

Implications: The impact of the pump on self-confidence and related personal feelings is a significant component in predicting job satisfaction. Additional factors suggest that perceptions of management teams and backgrounds of the staff are associated with job satisfaction and the use of this technology. This suggests that infusion technology is perceived as a factor to foster job satisfaction and improve patient care safety, while reducing medication errors and negative patient care outcomes.