This study was based on the results of two surveys (Group A and Group B) designed to identify variables related to nurses' retention and job satisfaction. The survey of Group A was conducted in 1994, and the subjects were nurses who worked at large general hospitals with established nursing administration systems. The survey of group B was conducted in 1995 and the subjects were nurses who worked at small private hospitals with less or no established nursing administration systems. The purpose of this study was to explore and discuss differences between Group A and Group B's Personal backgrounds and perception of their work, and to investigate variables related to nurses' retention and job satisfaction. The survey was designed as a descriptive study using a questionnaire. Questionnaires were comprised of demographic data and contained the following 5 scales; Administration system scale, Interpersonal relationship scale, Professionalism scale, Nurse's self-actualization scale, Overall job satisfaction scale. Two main differences between Group A and Group B which emerged from this study concerned the nurses' educational backgrounds and their perceptions of work. The nurses in Group A, most of whom graduated from 3 or 4 year nursing programs, focused on the nurses' career development, and the nurses in Group B, who had often worked as practical nurses, focused on the nurses work environment. The job satisfaction of both Group A and Group B was correlated with the administration system, interpersonal relationships, and professionalism. In particular, Group B nurses' job satisfaction was strongly related to their perceptions of the nursing administration system including work environment. Group A nurses' job satisfaction was moderately significant with all variables except self actualization which was not found to be related. Although in both groups, nurses who thought about leaving their jobs were found to have low scores on nursing administration system and self actualization scales, Group B scores on these scales were lower than Group A.