Motivation of nurses for raising professional qualifications

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the study was to determine motivating factors for increasing professional qualifications among nurses. Material and methods. The study was conducted among 104 nurses employed at Samodzielny Publiczny Miejski Zakład Opiek Zdrowotnej (Independent Public Municipal Health Care Centre) in Słupsk, as well as professionally active students of post-graduat master's degree programme in nursing conducted at the Pomeranian University in Słupsk. Results. As many as 85.6% of nurses reported improving their professional qualifications in the last ten years, of which 65.4% ha completed a specialist course, 33.7% had completed post-graduate education, and 53.8% of the respondents had attended othe forms of professional training. The data shows that some nurses have received more than one form of vocational training. Trainin leave and decisions of superiors had the least influence on the motivation for raising qualifications. The most frequent demotivator from implementing measures aimed at improving qualifications were: lack of time and financial barrier. Superiors, lack of appropriat offer nor need for post-graduate education had the least influence on demotivation. Conclusions. The main driving factor behind nurses' decision to raise their professional qualifications is the desire to broaden th knowledge as well as the prospect of pay increase. The most frequently occurring demotivators in taking measures aimed at improvin qualifications are the lack of time and financial barriers.