Antecedents and Outcomes of Nurses' Subjective Career Success: A Path Analysis

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to test the hypothesis model showing the relationship between nurses' individual and working characteristics, nursing work environment, subjective career success, job satisfaction, intent to leave, and professional commitment.

Design and methods: A cross-sectional and correlational design was utilized for the study. The study sample consisted of 604 nurses working in four hospitals in Istanbul, Turkey. Data were collected using the Nurse Information Form, Subjective Career Success Inventory, Practice Work Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index, Job Satisfaction Global Item, Intent to Leave Subscale, and Professional Commitment Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive and correlation analysis, and the hypothesis model was tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings: The hypothesis model that was established to test the antecedents and outcomes of subjective career success in nurses was acceptable and had a good fit. Having a master's degree, work schedule with rotating shifts (negative), good individual income, participation in hospital affairs, staffing and resource adequacy, and nurse-physician relations were significantly associated with the subjective career success of nurses. Subjective career success had a positive effect on job satisfaction and professional commitment and a negative significant effect on intent to leave in nurses.

Conclusions: This study revealed that human capital, objective career success, and some characteristics of the nursing work environment were significantly associated with nurses' subjective career success, and that increased subjective career success produced positive professional and organizational outcomes.

Clinical relevance: The results of this study, which revealed the antecedents and outcomes of nurses' career success, should be taken into consideration by managers who wish to retain a qualified nursing workforce.

Keywords: Intent to leave; job satisfaction; nurses; professional commitment; subjective career success; work environment.