Student nurses' career motivation toward gerontological nursing: A longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Gerontological Nursing
• Healthcare Workforce Development

Background:

• Student nurses' career motivation significantly impacts career choices.
• Factors influencing motivation toward gerontological nursing are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess career motivation in student nurses towards gerontological nursing.
• To identify predictors of this motivation using Bandura's reciprocal determinism theory.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study with 305 student nurses across six hospitals.
• Data collected at three time points during clinical practice.
• Utilized validated scales for motivation, attitudes, anxiety, empathy, and environment; analyzed with correlation and regression.

Main Results:

• Mean career motivation scores remained relatively stable but varied over time.
• Motivation was lowest during the initial month of clinical practice.
• Positive geriatric attitudes, lower aging anxiety, higher empathy, and a better clinical environment predicted higher motivation.

Conclusions:

• Career motivation in student nurses towards gerontological nursing requires enhancement, particularly early in clinical training.
• Interventions should focus on improving attitudes towards geriatrics, reducing aging anxiety, fostering empathy, and optimizing the clinical practice environment.