Work alienation influences nurses' readiness for professional development and willingness to learn: A cross-sectional...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Occupational Health Psychology
• Pandemic Response

Background:

• Work alienation poses a significant threat to the nursing profession, potentially hindering professional growth and learning.
• The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exacerbated challenges within the healthcare sector, impacting nurse well-being and development.
• Understanding the interplay between work alienation, professional development, and willingness to learn is crucial for supporting nurses during crises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the levels of work alienation, professional development readiness, and willingness to learn among Jordanian nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To examine the relationship between work alienation and nurses' readiness for professional development and willingness to learn.
• To identify the influence of sociodemographic factors and work alienation on nurses' professional development and learning attitudes.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional correlational study design was employed.
• Data were collected from 328 nurses at Jordan University Hospital using validated Arabic scales for readiness for professional development, willingness to learn, and work alienation.
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis.

Main Results:

• Nurses reported high levels of both work alienation (Mean ± SD = 3.12 ± 1.01) and readiness for professional development and willingness to learn (Mean ± SD = 3.51 ± 0.43).
• A significant negative association was found between work alienation and readiness for professional development/willingness to learn (r = -0.54, p < 0.001).
• Higher educational attainment correlated with increased work alienation (r = -0.16, p = 0.008), and work alienation directly impacted readiness for professional development and willingness to learn (R² = 0.287, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Work alienation among nurses increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, diminishing their readiness for professional development and willingness to learn.
• Healthcare institutions should implement annual assessments of nurse work alienation and provide targeted counseling interventions.
• Proactive strategies are needed to mitigate work alienation and foster a supportive learning environment for nurses.