FACTORS AFFECTING THE NURSING CAREER CHOICE.
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1990
Number of pages: 179
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: An understanding of the factors that influence persons to choose nursing as a career has important implications for recruitment of nursing students during a severe nursing shortage. The first purpose of conducting this study was to describe factors associated with the choice of nursing as a career. The second purpose was to determine differential sources of influence when subjects were categorized into subgroups such as type of nursing program and age. A sample of 436 first-year nursing students from 12 associate degree and baccalaureate schools of nursing in 12 states across the United States was the focus of this study.

All students completed the Reasons for Choosing Nursing questionnaire devised by the researcher. In the total sample, the most important reason for choosing nursing was the inner satisfaction of working with and helping people. Job characteristics such as flexibility, variety, and ease of obtaining a job were other important reasons for choosing nursing. Personal self-beliefs and the experience of caring for someone who was ill were also important influences on the decision to become a nurse.

When the sample was divided into subgroups, several differential sources of influence were identified. Males and older students place less value on working with people than females and younger students. First-career students, students choosing nursing at a young age, and students with a nurse in the family were more influenced by other people in their decision to become a nurse. Associate degree and baccalaureate nursing students chose nursing for similar reasons.

Eight themes were extracted from the qualitative component of this study, which included semi-structured interviews with 10 students from the total sample. The content analysis supported the data in the quantitative portion of this study in that working with people, job characteristics, and positive self-beliefs were themes richly woven through the interviews.

Further research in the area of career choice factors is needed in such subpopulations as minorities and males. This study should also be replicated over time, since changing societal values and trends affect career choice.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-06, Section: B, page: 2823.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1990.

School code: 0227.