Nursing careers: What motivated nurses to choose their profession?

Abstract

This paper considers self-reported reasons for choosing to be a nurse and intentions related toremaining in the profession. The data are drawn from a survey of Western AustralianRegistered Nurses which was part of a broader study of issues for recruitment and retention ofnurses in the context of current labour market opportunities for women. The paper finds thatwhat we have termed the ?intrinsic attraction? of nursing has been a key element in the decisionto enter nursing for the bulk of nurses while ?employment security? aspects of the job are also afocus. Interestingly only a minority of nurses rated the ?extrinsic rewards? highly as a factor indecision making. The paper notes that there are some areas of significant difference in nursingcareer selection motivation between older and younger nurses; this finding does have policyimplications for both health authorities and employers.