Self-efficacy, grit, and rural career aspirations among early career nurses: A repeated cross-sectional study

Background : The present global nursing workforce shortage represents an impediment to the delivery of safe, evidence-based healthcare. Despite all collective efforts a consistent stream of nurses leaving the profession remains, particularly within the first five years of practice, further exacerbated in rural communities. Methods : As part of a longitudinal investigation examining early career nurse career trajectories, changes in self-efficacy, grit, and career aspirations were compared, using a repeated cross-sectional design, among second- and fourth-year nurses after graduation. Participants included, 117 (response rate 52.2%) who completed an online questionnaire 18-24 months after graduating, and 32 participants (response rate of 21.0%) who agree to repeat the questionnaire 36-48 months after graduating. The questionnaire included demographic and employment items, and measures examining general and occupational self-efficacy, grit, and rural career aspirations. Results : No differences between general and occupational self-efficacy or grit were identified between send and fourth year nurses. In addition, the importance placed on undertaking rural career also remains unchanged. However, a higher proportion of fourth year nurses were more likely to be in management or were considering leaving the profession, as anticipated. Conclusions : This examination of early career nurses who are now in their second and fourth-year post-graduation highlights self-efficacy, grit, and rural career aspirations remains stable between two- and four-years following graduation, while nursing in their fourth year were more likely to consider leaving the profession. Nursing retention is a ‘Wicked Problem’ that is unavoidably a complex amalgam of macro, meso and micro factors that we are yet to fully appreciate.