Analysis of the Current Status and Influencing Factors of “Future Work Self-Clarity” Among Chinese Intern Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Survey

  • Min Li State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
  • Ritao Liu State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
  • Yufeng Pan State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
  • Fan Yang State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
  • Fengjie Li State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
  • Yi Shen State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
  • Huahui Guan State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
  • Meng Yang State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
  • Xue Fu State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
Keywords: Career adaptability, Nursing students, Self-clarify, Spirituality

Abstract

Background: The shortage of nurses in China is still a serious problem, how to improve the future work self-clarity of nursing students is very important. Objective: To evaluate the future work self-clarity among nursing students regarding their future careers and the factors influencing it. Methods: A total of 204 undergraduate nursing students from Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, were selected as participants for an online cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Results: The scores of the “Future Work Self-Clarity Scale”, Spiritual Climate Scale, and Career Calling Questionnaire for nursing students were (18.34 ± 3.64), (14.43 ± 3.77), (39.25 ± 10.45), respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis results indicated that satisfaction with clinical teachers, spiritual climate, and occupational calling were the influencing factors of future work self-clarity for intern nursing students (t = -3.230, 2.92, 4.68; all P < 0.05). Conclusion: The level of future work self-clarity among nursing students requires further improvement. Nursing managers should provide comprehensive attention and encouragement to nursing students to enhance their future work self-clarity and facilitate the construction and development of the nursing team.

References

World Health Organization, 2020, Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241511131

National Health Commission, 2022, National Nursing Development Plan (2021-2025). Chinese Nursing Management, 22(6): 801–804.

Wang J, Zhang J, Li Y, et al., 2022, The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital Between Motivation to Learn and Sense of Career Benefit in Trainee Nursing Students. Journal of Nursing Management, 22(3): 215–219.

Ling H, Teng S, Liu X, et al., 2022, Future Work Self Clarity and Future Time Perspective as Serial Mediators Between Proactive Personality and Career Adaptability. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(4): 824198.

Guo L, Mao J, Huang Q, et al., 2022, Polishing Followers‘ Future Work Selves! The Critical Roles of Leader Future Orientation and Vision Communication. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 2022: 137.

Lou T, Ye M, 2019, Studying on the Impact of Perceived Overqualification on Work Engagement: The Moderating Role of Future Work Self Clarity and Mediating Role of Thriving at Work. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 7(8): 24–36.

Guo J, Li Y, Zhang E, 2023, Advances in Research on Nurses‘ Mental Climate in the Workplace. China Nursing Management, 23(4), 595–599.

Preposi J, Nahed A, Ejercito B, 2021, Work Engagement of Nurses and the Influence of Spiritual Climate of Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Nursing Management, 30(1): 279–287.

Li C, Cui X, Zhao Y, et al., 2023, Missed Nursing Care as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Career Calling and Turnover Intention. International Nursing Review, 71(1): 62–68.

Hong Y, Qiu M, Liu L, et al., 2023, Surface Acting, Emotional Exhaustion, Career Calling and Turnover Intention Among Student Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study. Nurse Education in Practice, 2023(69): 103641.

Zhang S, Tong C, Zeng T, et al., 2023, Survey on the Current Situation and Influencing Factors of Occupational Calling of Operating Theatre Nurses in a Tertiary Care Hospital. Journal of Nursing, 38(7): 6–9.

Strauss K, Griffin M, Parker S, 2011, Future Work Selves: How Salient Hoped-For Identities Motivate Proactive Career Behaviors. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 97(3): 580–598.

Guan Y, Guo Y, Bond M, et al., 2014, New Job Market Entrants’ Future Work Self,Career Adaptability and Job Search Outcomes: Examining Mediating and Moderating Models. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 85(1):136–145.

Sexton J, Schwartz S, Chadwick W, et al., 2017, The Associations Between Work-Life Balance Behaviours, Teamwork Climate and Safety Climate: Cross-Sectional Survey Introducing the Work-Life Climate Scale, Psychometric Properties, Benchmarking Data and Future Directions. BMJ Quality & Safety, 26(8): 632–640.

Wu X, Zhang Y, Wu J, et al., 2019, A Reliability Study of the Chinese Version of the Mental Climate Short-Form Scale. Nursing Research, 33(14): 2396–2399.

Dobrow S, Tosti-Kharas J, 2011, Calling: The Development of a Scale Measure. Personnel Psychology, 64(4): 1001–1049.

Pei Y, Zhao S, 2015, A Study of the Relationship Between Career Calling, Career Commitment and Work Attitude Among Knowledge-Based Employees. Management Science, 28(2): 103–114.

Chen Y, Li J, Tan F, 2022, Analysing the Development of Nursing Education in the 40 Years of Reform and Opening Up from the Construction of the National Nursing Workforce. Modern Nurse, 29(1): 161–164.

Han S, Eum K, Kang H, et al., 2021, Factors Influencing Academic Self-Efficacy Among Nursing Students During COVID-19: A Path Analysis. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 33(2): 239–245.

Chen D, Lin J, Chen D, et al., 2023, A Study on the Current Situation and Influencing Factors of Future Job Self-Clarity of Senior Nursing Students. Journal of Nursing Management, 23(1): 57–60.

Liang Y, Tan Y, Xin H, et al., 2023, An Overview of the Scope of Application of Teaching Evaluation Indicator Systems in Nursing Programmes. Chinese General Practice Nursing, 21(36): 5041–5045.

He X, 2019, Analysis of the Current Situation of Nursing Students’ Sense of Professional Benefit in the Middle and Late Stages of Practice and the Factors Affecting it, thesis, Southern Medical University.

Al-Husban R, Shudifat R, Tarawneh F, 2022, Clinical Instructors’ Caring Behaviors as Perceived by Nursing Students. Nursing Education Perspectives, 43(6): E62–E64.

Yang C, Li J, Zhou X, et al., 2022, Analysis of Factors Influencing the Adaptability of Clinical Practice of Trainee Nursing Students and Strategies for Teaching Improvement. Chinese Journal of General Practice, 20(11): 1950–1953.

Fradelos E, Alexandropoulou C, Kontopoulou L, et al., 2022, Factors Affecting Greek Nurses’ Caring Behaviors: The Role of Nurses’ Spirituality and the Spiritual Climate of Hospitals. Journal of Religion and Health, 61(3): 1–15.

Hou N, Yuan J, Luan S, et al., 2023, A Study of the Correlation Between Young Clinical Nurses’ Career Adaptability and Future Time Insight and Mental Climate of the Work Environment. Chinese General Practice Nursing, 21(6): 732–736.

Cruz J, Alquwez N, Balay-Odao E, 2022, Work Engagement of Nurses and the Influence of Spiritual Climate of Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Nursing Management, 30(1): 279–287.

Zhu Y, Wang Z, Fang Z, et al., 2023, Research Progress on Career Calling of Nurses. Journal of Nursing Science, 38(7): 22–25.

Li F, Zhou Y, Kuang P, 2024, Thriving at Work, Career Calling, and Moral Distress Among Nurses. Nursing Ethics, 31(5): 919–929.

Xie J, Jing L, Li R, et al., 2024, The Impact of Career Calling on Nurse Burnout: A Moderated Mediation Model. International Nursing Review, 71(4): 969–976.

Published
2025-10-31