Social and psychologic influences on employment of married nurses

Seven summary factors were obtained from a principal components factor analysis and Varimax rotation of 21 variables, based on 145 pieces of information given by 1,998 nurses in metropolitan Detroit, Michigan, in 1973. Study nurses were under 60 years of age, were married and living with spouse, and had at least one child 18 or younger. The factors were: career desirability, professional attitude, professional behavior, achievement personality, conducive home situation, economic value of work, and satisfaction with nursing. When these factors were compared with employment status-1) current employment activity of all subjects, 2) subjects whose employment status was constant for five years, highest scores were registered in both categories on career desirability, professional behavior, and economic value of work. Both groups of nurses scored lowest on satisfaction with nursing, with the five-year employees scoring lower. When the seven factors were correlated with employment status while controlling financial need and age of youngest child at home, highest correlation scores resulted for professional behavior, career desirability, and, in the case of those with financial need, on the economic value of nursing.