This article consists of four parts. First, the authors review the literature on factors that affect job satisfaction and longevity among various professional groups. Second, they report the results of a pilot survey of 27 master's level oncology social workers in Michigan designed to explore the perceived impact of variables identified in the literature-personal history, patient-related factors, organizational dynamics, social support, and burnout on survival in professional practice. Third, the authors describe a survey instrument they developed to investigate the impact of these variables in more depth with a larger population of oncology social workers. The survey was distributed to 571 members of the National Association of Oncology Social Workers in the spring of 1991, and the data is currently being analyzed. Finally, the authors briefly discuss the implications that the results of the larger study may have for selecling, supervising, and training oncology social workers and other professionals in oncology.
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