FACTORS THAT INFLUENCED THE CAREER DECISION OF MATERNAL-CHILD NURSES (NURSES).
Contributors: Texas Woman's University.
Published: 1989
Number of pages: 139
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Human Development.; Education, Guidance and Counseling.
Description: This descriptive, phenomenological study had two purposes. First, this study was undertaken to describe maternal-child nurses' family of origin characteristics and their influence on the career decision. The second purpose examined what experiences and people influenced the subjects to choose maternal-child nursing as a specialty.

Systems theory with emphasis on family of origin work was used as the theoretical framework. The purposive interviews were conducted with 30 committed maternal-child nurses. Subjects ranged in age from 25 to 56 years with 3 to 30 years experience in the field.

Interview data were analyzed by a three-step process recommended by Taylor and Bogdan (1984). Data were coded into major (27) and minor (19) themes in reference to 5 research questions.

Results of the study indicate that maternal-child nurses went into nursing in order to help people. A satisfying experience in the job encouraged them to stay in the field. Nursing school clinical experience and employment availability in the area were involved in stimulating the career decision. Motivations to become a maternal-child nurse centered around: the birth process was liked, stress in intensive care and medical-surgical units was not liked, they preferred a happy and well environment, they wanted to help parents have a positive experience, and they believed their personality fit the area. Parental relationships with the subject indicated that more time was spent with the mother. Subjects were close to their father but closer to their mother. Little verbal love was expressed by fathers. Communication was usually better with their mother. There was respect for fathers and he was proud of them but there were aspects of resentment toward him. Mothers were viewed as both authoritarian and nurturing. The climate between the parents involved minor arguments and lack of money but a stable relationship. Family influence on the career decision was a balance of closeness and discord with siblings, encouragement toward an education, and a nurturing family. Recommendations for further study focused on the need for intensive testing on a geographically diversified sample.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-11, Section: B, page: 4979.

Thesis (PH.D.)--TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY, 1989.

School code: 0925.