What Motivates Intensive Care Nurses to Continue Working in the Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic underscored critical ICU capacity and working condition issues in Norwegian hospitals.
• Recruiting and retaining nurses, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs), is a significant challenge.
• Understanding nurse motivation is vital for improving retention and healthcare system resilience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the motivating factors for nurses continuing to work in the ICU.
• To identify environmental elements that foster job satisfaction and retention among intensive care nurses.
• To apply a constructivist approach, emphasizing knowledge creation through researcher-participant-context interaction.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing a constructivist research paradigm.
• Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with intensive care nurses.
• Thematic analysis was employed to analyze transcribed interview data.

Main Results:

• A central theme identified was 'an interpersonal and professionally focused work environment'.
• Sub-themes included 'unity and well-being', 'close and professional leadership', and 'professional engagement and mastery'.
• These factors collectively contribute to job satisfaction and motivation, even amidst high workloads.

Conclusions:

• A positive and supportive work environment is paramount for retaining intensive care nurses.
• Effective leadership, team cohesion, and opportunities for professional growth are key motivators.
• Addressing these environmental factors can help mitigate nurse turnover in ICUs.