Purpose
This study aimed to identify position-specific career competency development needs among clinical nurses in general hospitals. Methods: This descriptive survey included 184 nurses, comprising 98 staff nurses and 86 nurse managers. Participants rated the perceived importance of, and their self-rated performance in, each career competency. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, importance–performance analysis, Borich’s needs assessment model, and the Locus for Focus model. Results: Seven core career competencies—including balance check/adjustment, career experience, relationship formation, new goals challenge, and external exploration—were highly prioritized by both staff nurses and nurse managers. Staff nurses and nurse managers both assigned high priority to seven competency areas: balance checking and adjustment, participation in career-related experiences, internal and external relationship formation, pursuit of new goals, and external career exploration. Staff nurses placed additional emphasis on self-reflection and internal career opportunities, whereas nurse managers emphasized accurate goal planning and ongoing review of career development. Conclusion: This study identified position-specific differences in nurses’ career competency development needs. These findings may inform the selection of educational priorities and the development of differentiated, position-specific programs to strengthen career competencies among nurses in general hospitals.

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of nursing students' perception of emerging infectious disease, ethical awareness and nurse image on their career identity in a pandemic situation. Methods: Data were collected from 247 nursing students within universities of Daejeon, Gimcheon and Yeongdong area from May 18 to June 20, 2020. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression analysis. Results: The subjects of this study had high level of perception of novel infectious disease (3.72±0.43), ethical awareness in pandemic situations (4.06±0.48), and nurse image (4.07±0.49), but low level of career identity (1.99±0.51). Career identify was significantly correlated with perception of novel infectious disease (r=.18, p=.005), ethical awareness in pandemic situation (r=.16, p=.011), and nurse image (r=.32, p<.001). However, excluding grade and residential area among the general characteristics, only the nurse image (β=.35, p<.001) was identified as a factor influencing career identity, and the explanatory power was 13.1%. Conclusion: To increase the career identity of nursing students, it is necessary to raise professional nurses’ social awareness and develop a positive nurse image.

Citations

• Factors Influencing Graduate Nurses’ Intention to Care for Emerging Infectious Disease Patients Based on Theory of Reasoned Action
  Seonhye Jeong, Yeoungsuk Song
  Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing.2024; 31(1): 60.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with new graduate nurses' choices of local hospitals.
METHODS
Participants were 526 new graduate nurses from one of five universities located in Busan, Ulsan or Gyeongnam. The new graduates completed a self-report questionnaire survey during February and March, 2016. The questionnaire included questions about choices of local hospitals, satisfaction with nursing major, nursing professionalism and anticipated nursing practice environment. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with the new graduate nurses' choices of local hospitals.
RESULTS
Of the participants, 86.3% had their first jobs in their nursing school region (local hospitals). The choice of local hospitals among new graduate nurses was related to region of origin, type of nursing school, grade point average, and anticipated nursing practice environment.
CONCLUSION
Local hospitals need to enhance the nurse practice environment and provide institutional benefits to new graduate nurses who choose local hospitals. For quality nursing care, reducing the geographical gap and improving policy is necessary.

Citations

• Factors influencing nursing students’ preferences for hospitals by geographic location and bed capacity
  Hae Na Nam, Hyun Ji Bae
  The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education.2025; 31(4): 387.     CrossRef
• Factors Influencing Nursing Students' Choices of a Place of Employment
  Sun Ju You, Jong Kyung Kim, Myun Sook Jung, Se Young Kim, Eun Kyung Kim
  Korean Journal of Health Promotion.2018; 18(4): 184.     CrossRef