Nurses' Job Motivation: A Grounded Theory Study.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Lack of motivation is one of the most causes of decreased organizational outcome. In spite of applying a verity of proposed motivational theories in order to motivate the nurses; there are some undetermined issues in work disinterestedness and job dissatisfaction among nurses. The lack of nursing job motivation would negatively affect the clients' health status and safety and consequently community health condition. The main goal of this study was describing and exploring the process of job motivation among Iranian nurses. Method: This study was situated within the grounded theory method. Nineteen Iranian registered nurses as key informants were interviewed. Semi –structured in –depth individual interviews were used for data collection. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and were analyzed simultaneously by adopting the constant comparative approach according to the Strauss and Corbin's method. Results: Data analysis revealed that social status was core variable. Accordingly, participant's statements elucidated that nurses' job motivation interconnected to four contextual factors including dignity, job characteristics, organizational structure and social status as main categories. Furthermore, detail analyses indicated that there is a mutual interrelationship among these categories that was influencing nurses' job motivation, and consequently reflected on professional identity. Conclusion: Professional identity is core variable and acts as an axial driving force for nurses' job motivation. Nurses acquire their professional identity by obtaining dignity, appropriate organizational structure, sufficient income and facilities, and suitable social status that ultimately resulted in high level of job motivation. This consequence would increase the quality of care, nursing effectiveness, and finally led to high status of individual and community health level.