Perception and needs: a qualitative study on sense of job security among nurses in central and western China

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 14; no. 4; p. e081169
• Main Authors: Xiong, Wanhong, Liao, Changju, Zhang, Cuicui, Liang, Yufen, Xiong, Wanfen, Zhu, Aiqun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 25.04.2024; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Original research
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety; Attitude of Health Personnel; China; Clinical medicine; Clinical nursing; Employment security; Female; health & safety; Hospitals; Humans; Interviews; Interviews as Topic; Job Satisfaction; Job Security; Male; Medical research; Mental disorders; Middle Aged; Nurses; Nurses - psychology; Nursing; Nursing Staff, Hospital - psychology; Occupational accidents; Occupational safety; Patient safety; Perceptions; Physiology; Qualitative Research; social support; Stress; Workloads; Workplace - psychology; Workplace violence; China; social support; qualitative research; nurses; job satisfaction; health & safety
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081169

AimsTo explore nurses’ perceptions of sense of job security and their needs to improve it.DesignA descriptive qualitative study employed an in-depth, in-person interview from February to April in 2021. The data analysis software NVivo V.11.0 was used to assist with the data organisation, and content analysis methods were conducted to explore key concepts.SettingThree tertiary hospitals in central and western China were selected by convenience sampling method.ParticipantsA total of 20 nurses participated in this study.ResultsFour categories and 13 subcategories were extracted. The four main categories included: (1) enrich connotation of sense of job security; 2) challenges to sense of job security; (3) consequences of a sense of insecurity; and (4) the need to improve nurses’ sense of job security.ConclusionsNurses expressed a multidimensional perception of a sense of security about the nursing profession, and they highlighted the importance of communication skills training and supervisors’ humanistic care and support. It is necessary to improve the training system for nurses' ability improvement, a harmonious work environment, policies and psychological health support to enhance their sense of job security.