"I love the job…" Thriving in nursing: A qualitative interview study with framework analysis

Factors influencing the thriving of emergency department nurses in China

INTRODUCTION

Thriving is a positive feeling arising from nurses' work and is increasingly valued by managers. Given their demanding workloads and various duties, it is necessary to research the determinants of ED nurses' thriving. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing thriving and the mechanisms of interaction between the factors among ED nurses.

METHODS

380 ED nurses from six tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province, China, participated in this cross-sectional study. The instruments used were the General Information Questionnaire, Challenge-Hindrance Stressors Scale, Psychological Detachment Scale, and Thriving at Work Scale. Data analysis methods included univariate analysis, Pearson correlation, PROCESS 4.0, and hierarchical multiple regression.

RESULTS

Weekly working hours affected nurses' thriving. Challenge stressors and psychological detachment were positively related to thriving. Hindrance stressors had a negative link with thriving. Psychological detachment suppressed the relationship between challenge stressors and thriving; however, it mediated the relationship between hindrance stressors and thriving.

CONCLUSION

Challenge-hindrance stressors and psychological detachment are significant elements influencing ED nurses' thriving. Nursing administrators should help ED nurses properly address stressors with different attributes and adopt appropriate strategies to improve nurses' thriving by enhancing psychological detachment.

Thriving at work, career calling, and moral distress among nurses

BACKGROUND

Emergency nurses who thrive at work experience positive emotions that help reduce burnout and thus enhance career calling. However, few studies have focused on the relationships among thriving at work, career calling, and moral distress among emergency nurses.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the relationships among thriving at work, career calling, and moral distress and to explore the mediating role of career calling in the relationship between thriving at work and moral distress among emergency nurses.

DESIGN

A quantitative, cross-sectional study.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted by reference to 390 emergency nurses in China using an online survey that include the Thriving at Work Scale, the Career Calling Scale, and the Moral Distress Scale-Revised. The data were analyzed using SmartPLS software.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATION

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hunan Normal University (No. 2023-388).

FINDINGS

Among emergency nurses, thriving at work is positively associated with career calling, while career calling is negatively associated with moral distress. Career calling negatively and completely mediates the relationship between thriving at work and moral distress (β = -0.087, p < 0.01).

DISCUSSION

Theoretically, the findings enhance our understanding of the relationships among thriving at work, career calling, and moral distress among emergency nurses.

CONCLUSION

By emphasizing the benefits of thriving at work, nursing managers can improve nurses' level of thriving at work by providing a favorable environment, a flexible scheduling system, and appropriate authorization as well as by ensuring organizational fairness and providing training opportunities in a hierarchical manner.