The purpose of this prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study was to explore the relationship between staff nurses' perceptions of first line manager coaching behaviors and nursing work environment characteristics, professional work satisfaction, job satisfaction, and intent to stay. Staff nurses perceived managers as engaging in certain coaching behaviors more frequently than others. Behaviors that established a mutually trusting and supportive relationship were reported as the most frequently occurring behaviors. Behaviors that supported the development of a mutually trusting and respectful relationship were reported as the most frequently occuring behaviors. Behaviors that supported one-on-one interactions focusing on individual development occurred less frequently. Managerial coaching behaviors were positively correlated with eight work environment characteristics which comprise professional work satisfaction, with medium to large effect sizes noted. Coaching behaviors also demonstrated positive relationships with job satisfaction and intent to stay. Correlational analyses and regression analyses illuminated the relationships between the variables. Mediation analysis of managerial coaching and the eight work environment characteristics defining professional work satisfaction provided more complete understanding of the relationship in prediction of intent to stay. The eight characteristics acted as either total or partial mediators of managerial coaching when predicting intent to stay. Demographic characteristics, managerial coaching and professional work satisfaction explained 41.4% of the variance in job satisfaction. Demographic characteristics, managerial coaching, professional work satisfaction, and job satisfaction explained 37% of the variance in intent to stay. / text