Factors associated with the extent of nurses’ involvement in promotion of the nursing profession: a cross-sectional study among nurses working in diverse healthcare settings

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To examine factors associated with promotion of the nursing profession, to the nursing community, other healthcare professionals and the general public, by nurses employed in diverse healthcare settings. BACKGROUND: Little is known about the factors that contribute to nurses’ involvement in the promotion of the nursing profession. METHODS: This cross-sectional study comprises a convenience sample of registered nurses (n = 526) with ≥ 3 months’ experience in nursing, who are employed in internal and surgical units, pediatric wards, psychiatric wards or in the community across Israel. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire addressing socio-demographic, occupational and organizational factors relating to the nursing work environment and to the extent of nurses’ involvement in promotion of the nursing profession. Descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and multivariate linear regression were performed. RESULTS: Nurses in all the surveyed healthcare settings reported relatively low levels of involvement in promotion of the profession, either to the nursing community or to other healthcare professionals and the public. Being a female-nurse was significantly negatively associated with nurses’ involvement in promotion of the nursing profession. In contrast, holding a master’s degree in nursing, having a managerial role, and working in a supportive organizational nursing work environment were the principal factors associated with positive promotion of the nursing profession. CONCLUSION: The extent of nurses’ involvement in promotion of the nursing profession mainly depends on occupational factors and a supportive organizational nursing work environment. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Healthcare managers may advance nurses’ involvement in promotion of the profession by modifying the organizational nursing work environment. Specifically, we recommend nurse leaders to dedicate efforts to make professional promotion an integral part of a nurse’s role.