Motivations, Capacity Preparations and Development of Specialist Nurses: A Descriptive Phenomenological Qualitative Study

IF 3.4 3区医学 Q1 NURSING Journal of Advanced Nursing Pub Date : 2025-02-25 DOI:10.1111/jan.16851

Yu Zhao, Shiyu Wang, Siyu Fan, Na Zhang, Zhi Li, Yifeng Gu, Qun Wei, Bihong Yang, Weijuan Ye, Fengping Liu

{"title":"Motivations, Capacity Preparations and Development of Specialist Nurses: A Descriptive Phenomenological Qualitative Study","authors":"Yu Zhao, Shiyu Wang, Siyu Fan, Na Zhang, Zhi Li, Yifeng Gu, Qun Wei, Bihong Yang, Weijuan Ye, Fengping Liu","doi":"10.1111/jan.16851","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Aim</h3>\n \n <p>To explore the motivations, capacity preparations and career development plans of specialist nurses (SNs) to provide insights for promoting further specialisation in nursing and enhancing the quality of nursing services.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Design</h3>\n \n <p>A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study was conducted.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>The study was conducted from April to May 2024 at a tertiary hospital in China. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit 35 nurses from various departments of the hospital who had completed specialist nursing training and obtained the necessary qualifications. These SNs participated in face-to-face semi-structured interviews.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>Three overarching themes and ten subthemes were extracted. (1) career choices for SNs, included the following subthemes: ‘Social support’, ‘Specialist nursing is charismatic’, ‘Demand for specialized nursing’ and ‘Possessing specialized nursing qualities’. (2) career preparations for SNs, comprised subthemes such as ‘Professional preparation’, ‘Quality requirements’ and ‘Qualification requirements’. (3) career development for SNs, encompassed subthemes like ‘Personal growth’, ‘Team building’ and ‘Disciplinary developments’.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>This study explores the motivations and experiences of SNs' career transitions, highlighting social support, the appeal of specialty nursing, industry demand and professional competence. Governments should provide resources for career preparation, while nurses should enhance their knowledge and skills. Becoming a SN marks a new career phase, requiring skill improvement, teamwork and discipline involvement. The study offers insights for general nurses transitioning to specialty nursing and informs SNs' career planning.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Implications for the Profession</h3>\n \n <p>These findings provide important guidance for the career development of nurses as specialists, highlighting the crucial role of government, hospitals and nursing advocates in fostering their professional growth.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Reporting Method</h3>\n \n <p>The study was reported following the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research Checklist.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Patient or Public Contribution</h3>\n \n <p>No patient or public contribution.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Impact Statement</h3>\n \n <p>(1) Impact on patients: this study underscores the significance of specialised nursing care and its potential to improve patient outcomes through enhanced expertise and individualised care. (2) Impact on clinical practice: by identifying the motivations and preparations for SNs' career transitions, the research emphasises the importance of specialised knowledge and continuous professional development to enhance clinical practice and quality of care. (3) Impact on education: the study advocates for more comprehensive educational programs and continuous professional development for SNs, ensuring they stay updated with the latest practices and research. (4) Impact on social and economic issues: Promoting specialty nursing can help address healthcare challenges, particularly with aging populations and chronic diseases, improving healthcare efficiency and reducing costs through targeted care.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Implications for Practice/Policy</h3>\n \n <p>(1) Establishing a standardised training and certification system is essential to ensure the professionalism, consistency and quality of specialist nursing practice. (2) Developing well-defined career pathways with research opportunities, leadership training and skill enhancement programs fosters SNs' professional growth, and strengthens their ability to adapt to evolving healthcare demands. (3) Enhancing professional autonomy and interdisciplinary collaboration will maximise the impact of SNs in improving patient care and driving healthcare innovation.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":54897,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Advanced Nursing","volume":"81 10","pages":"6829-6842"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Advanced Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jan.16851","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Aim

To explore the motivations, capacity preparations and career development plans of specialist nurses (SNs) to provide insights for promoting further specialisation in nursing and enhancing the quality of nursing services.

Design

A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study was conducted.

Methods

The study was conducted from April to May 2024 at a tertiary hospital in China. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit 35 nurses from various departments of the hospital who had completed specialist nursing training and obtained the necessary qualifications. These SNs participated in face-to-face semi-structured interviews.

Results

Three overarching themes and ten subthemes were extracted. (1) career choices for SNs, included the following subthemes: ‘Social support’, ‘Specialist nursing is charismatic’, ‘Demand for specialized nursing’ and ‘Possessing specialized nursing qualities’. (2) career preparations for SNs, comprised subthemes such as ‘Professional preparation’, ‘Quality requirements’ and ‘Qualification requirements’. (3) career development for SNs, encompassed subthemes like ‘Personal growth’, ‘Team building’ and ‘Disciplinary developments’.

Conclusions

This study explores the motivations and experiences of SNs' career transitions, highlighting social support, the appeal of specialty nursing, industry demand and professional competence. Governments should provide resources for career preparation, while nurses should enhance their knowledge and skills. Becoming a SN marks a new career phase, requiring skill improvement, teamwork and discipline involvement. The study offers insights for general nurses transitioning to specialty nursing and informs SNs' career planning.

Implications for the Profession

These findings provide important guidance for the career development of nurses as specialists, highlighting the crucial role of government, hospitals and nursing advocates in fostering their professional growth.

Reporting Method

The study was reported following the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research Checklist.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

Impact Statement

(1) Impact on patients: this study underscores the significance of specialised nursing care and its potential to improve patient outcomes through enhanced expertise and individualised care. (2) Impact on clinical practice: by identifying the motivations and preparations for SNs' career transitions, the research emphasises the importance of specialised knowledge and continuous professional development to enhance clinical practice and quality of care. (3) Impact on education: the study advocates for more comprehensive educational programs and continuous professional development for SNs, ensuring they stay updated with the latest practices and research. (4) Impact on social and economic issues: Promoting specialty nursing can help address healthcare challenges, particularly with aging populations and chronic diseases, improving healthcare efficiency and reducing costs through targeted care.

Implications for Practice/Policy

(1) Establishing a standardised training and certification system is essential to ensure the professionalism, consistency and quality of specialist nursing practice. (2) Developing well-defined career pathways with research opportunities, leadership training and skill enhancement programs fosters SNs' professional growth, and strengthens their ability to adapt to evolving healthcare demands. (3) Enhancing professional autonomy and interdisciplinary collaboration will maximise the impact of SNs in improving patient care and driving healthcare innovation.

查看原文

微信好友朋友圈 QQ好友复制链接

本刊更多论文

专科护士的动机、能力准备与发展：描述现象学定性研究

探讨专科护士的工作动机、能力准备和职业发展规划，为进一步推动专科护士专业化和提高护理服务质量提供参考。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文去求助

来源期刊

Journal of Advanced Nursing 医学-护理

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

7.90%

发文量

369

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Advanced Nursing (JAN) contributes to the advancement of evidence-based nursing, midwifery and healthcare by disseminating high quality research and scholarship of contemporary relevance and with potential to advance knowledge for practice, education, management or policy. All JAN papers are required to have a sound scientific, evidential, theoretical or philosophical base and to be critical, questioning and scholarly in approach. As an international journal, JAN promotes diversity of research and scholarship in terms of culture, paradigm and healthcare context. For JAN’s worldwide readership, authors are expected to make clear the wider international relevance of their work and to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural considerations and differences.