M.Cur. / The overall objective of this study is to measure the level of work satisfaction among nurses at Athlone, Lobatse Mental and Scottish Livingstone hospitals, and develop guidelines for the nursing service manager to facilitate work satisfaction. The nursing service manager is responsible and accountable for quality personnel management. Personnel management involves the adequate provision and utilisation of personnel as well as the retention and development of personnel. In view of existing problems such as high turnover rates, too much work and the public's concerns about the standard of nursing, there is need to regularly evaluate the level of work satisfaction among nurses. Hence the study address the formulation of guidelines for the nursing service manager to facilitate work satisfaction and empower nurses. Emanating from the above the following questions are relevant: What is the level of work satisfaction among nurses in the three government hospitals ? What measures need to be put in place in order to increase work satisfaction among nurses ?