Why nurses choose theatre nursing

This qualitative study uses a grounded theory approach to explore the motivational factors which affect nurses' career choice, by focusing on the responses of post registration nurses undertaking a course in operating room nursing. In all, 15 nurses were interviewed. Examination of the data, using a constant comparative method, revealed five conceptual categories which were used to explain factors which affected their career decisions. The descriptive analysis of each section serves to illuminate individual motivational factors which brought these respondents into nursing and the initial socialization process: early experiences of theatre nursing; aspects of work which provide job satisfaction; how nurses use nursing skills in theatre and recruitment of future theatre nurses. For these respondents, theatre nursing provided a clear task identity which is seen as significant in terms of patient outcomes, it provides interesting and challenging work within a good team structure, which was viewed as important for job satisfaction and motivation.