Professional values, self-efficacy, and job satisfaction : exploring Chinese obstetric nurses’ experience of current challenges

Abstract

Previous studies highlighted that in the process of nursing, nurses' self-efficacy and professional values directly or indirectly affect nurses' job satisfaction. Career switching and turnover of obstetric nurses are related to nurse self-efficacy and professional values, especially job satisfaction. The recent years witnessed an increase in obstetric nurses in China who transferred departments or resigned. Accordingly, this study investigated past experience, current situation, and associated factors of obstetric nurses' job satisfaction, followed by an exploration of the obstetric nurses’ perspectives of nursing work and the strategies to improve their job satisfaction. A two-phase study using a sequential explanatory mixed-method was conducted, starting with phase I where a cross-sectional design was used. Through an online survey of the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Nurses' Professional Values Scale, and Nurses' Job Satisfaction Scale, data were collected from 218 obstetric nurses who had been identified using purposive sampling. Subsequently, the collected data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27. The statistical results demonstrated that the levels of obstetric nurses' professional value (M = 2.898, SD = 0.258), self-efficacy (M = 3.016, SD = 0.188) and job satisfaction (M = 2.506, SD = 0.127) were lower than the average level, indicating the necessity for further investigation. In Phase II, a generic qualitative design was employed. An in-depth interview was conducted with 25 obstetric nurses who had participated in phase I. This was followed by managing and analysing the in-depth interview transcripts using NVivo software, in which the nurses described their inability to balance work and life, job-related stress, exhaustion and isolation, helplessness at work, cold relationships with colleagues, and sensitive and fragile patient relationships. Despite these negative experiences, they received no professional help or support, making their work more challenging. It was indicated from their descriptions that their job satisfaction was highly influenced by the public perceptions, workload, doctor-nurse, and patient-nurse relationships, opportunities to further their education, academic training, and salary. Hence, this study offers insights into social and psychological determinants from obstetric nurses’ perspective. While the nurses are required to respond to work in a timely and active manner, hospital management should empower the staff based on factors including the nurses' age, educational background, and professional positions to improve their job satisfaction.