Comparison between nurses' professional needs and their perceptions of their job

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Healthcare Management
• Professional Development

Background:

• Nurses' professional needs encompass rewards, challenges, and support.
• Understanding the alignment between these needs and the work environment is vital for job satisfaction and retention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the extent to which nurses' professional needs are met within their practice settings.
• To compare nurses' desired roles with their perceived actual roles in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• A survey design was employed, collecting data from 346 registered nurses (RNs) across metropolitan and rural hospitals and postgraduate students.
• The study assessed nurses' needs for professional rewards, challenges, and support against their perceptions of workplace reinforcement.
• Desired versus actual nursing roles were also compared.

Main Results:

• A significant mismatch exists between nurses' professional needs and the intrinsic/extrinsic rewards received.
• Discrepancies were noted between desired and actual nursing roles, particularly in policy involvement, recognition, and income potential.
• These mismatches are prominent in key areas impacting professional fulfillment.

Conclusions:

• Findings indicate a notable gap between nurses' professional expectations and their lived experiences in practice.
• This disparity may adversely affect nurses' work behaviors and job satisfaction.
• Reducing the gap between professional needs and practice realities is essential for improving the nursing profession.