Concept Analysis of the Clinical Nurses Career Plateau

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify and analyze the concept of a career plateau among clinical nurses. Methods: Using Walker and Avant’s concept analysis framework, 20 articles on the career plateau of clinical nurses were selected for this study. Results: The attributes of the clinical nurses’ structural career plateau were “unmet need for vertical movement” and “accepting of promotion restrictions”. The attributes of the clinical nurses’ content career plateau were “job repetition”, “involuntary job fixation”, “work lethargy”, “low expectations for nursing professional development,” and “indifference to care recipients”. The antecedent factors for the nurses’ career plateau were “lack of organizational support”, “lack of respect from the organization, bosses, and colleagues”, “personal problems arising or remaining unresolved”, “limited autonomy”, and “absence of role models”. As a consequence of the career plateau, job satisfaction, nursing competency, and nursing quality decreased, while burnout and turnover intention increased. Conclusion: This study is significant in that it clarified the concept and attributes of the clinical nurses’ career plateau by reflecting the characteristics and purpose of nursing.