CHAPTER 1

The Problem and Its Background

INTRODUCTION

The new millennium brought a tremendous shift in the

demographics of the nursing workforce. In addition, a nursing

shortage is looming in the distance. Just as nursing has seemed

to be emerging as a true science-and-research based profession,

evidenced by the successful integration of nursing theory,

research and practice, it is experiencing one of the largest and

most serious shortages ever.

In 2002, the Health Resources and Services Administration

estimated that 30 states had shortages of registered nurses in

2000. It predicted that these shortages will intensify over the

next 20 years. In February 2004, the United States Bureau of

Labor Statistics predicted that more than 1 million new and

replacement nurses will be needed by the year 2012. In a similar

vein, reports from the American Association of Colleges of

Nursing (AACN) have predicted a 20% shortage of registered

nurses by the year 2020 (Andrist, et al, 2006).

Factors contributing to this gloomy outlook include: (1)

lower enrollments in schools of nursing (enrollments in 2001

were 17% lower than in 1995); (2) a shortage of faculty in

schools of nursing, which is expected to increase dramatically

in the next decade; (3) the increasing age of nurses due to the

aging baby boom generation and the lowered numbers of people

entering the profession; and (4) burnout and dissatisfaction, as

reported in several studies (AACN, 2004).

One solution to nursing shortages of other countries has

been historically the importation of foreign nurses, the

majority of whom are people of color coming from underdeveloped

and developing countries, such as India, the Philippines, and

the Caribbean. Concordant with these recruitment efforts,

foreign countries’ Congresses have passed needed legislation to

facilitate the immigration of foreign nurses. For instance, the

Immigration Nursing Relief Acts of 1986, 1989 and 1990 provided

nonimmigrant visas (H-1A) to international nurses hired to fill

vacancies in U.S hospitals (Flynn & Aiken, 2002).

In the light of above situation the researchers were

motivated to conduct on the study on job satisfaction of

Wesleyan University Philippines graduates of Bachelor of Science

in Nursing to the present work they have.

Conceptual Framework

As presented in the paradigm, the nurse graduate is

influenced by a variety of factors that he or she may meet along

his way during the course of his nursing service. This includes

his expectations or motivations, perceived hindrances or

obstacles, profile, work atmosphere and the type of health care

agency he is affiliated with. These factors serve as the

independent variables in this study but the first two factors

act directly on the nurse volunteer whereas the remaining three,

linked in broken lines, affect the nurses indirectly in the

performance of his duties, knowledge development, attitude

enhancement and skill acquisition.

Furthermore, on the right side of the diagram are the

dependent variables: efficacy of service-learning experience and

quality of care rendered. These two factors are considered

dependent because they vary depending on the effects of all the

independent variables (expectations or motivations, perceived

hindrances or obstacles, profile, work atmosphere and the type

of health care agency) observed.

CONCEPTUAL MODEL

Nurse graduates

Profile of the
respondents

Satisfaction of selected
BS nursing graduates in
their nursing careers

Physiological
Psychosocial
satisfaction
satisfaction

Figure 1

Conceptual Paradigm of the Study

Statement of the Problem

This study sought to determine the satisfaction of selected

BS nursing graduates in their nursing careers towards it.

Specifically, it aimed to answer the following questions:

1. How may the profile of the respondents be described in

terms of

1.1 age;

1.2 gender;

1.3 civil status;

1.4 year graduated;

1.5 degree earned;

1.6 type of job; and

1.7 monthly income?

2. How the satisfaction of the selected BS nursing graduates

be described in terms of their job’s:

2.1 general working condition; and

2.2 psychosocial condition?

Significance of the Study

This study entitled “Satisfaction of selected BS nursing

graduates in their nursing careers” will be beneficial to the

following segments of the population:

Nurse Volunteers – They may come to realize their problems,

expectations and benefits of being a nurse in terms of

accomplishing work and producing better outputs.

Nurse Administrators – With this study, they will gain

insights with the career of nurses go through; therefore making

them in a better position to make necessary adjustments to

address these problems such as interpersonal and professional

relationship modification. Likewise, findings of this research

may be used as a reference for policy- making purposes.

Nursing School Administrators – They may use the findings

of this study for future curriculum development so as to prepare

aspiring nurses to be competent and well-rounded individuals to

withstand the challenges of the nursing profession.

Other Researchers – Forthcoming researchers can make use of

the findings of this study as reference materials, enabling them

of pursuing a related study.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

 This study focuses on Career and Satisfaction of Selected

Nursing Graduates in Wesleyan University Philippines. The

respondents specifically consist of randomly chosen thirty (30)

selected nursing graduates. The study has a time frame of 3

months starting January 2010 to March 2010.

Definition of Terms:

To understand more about this researcher, the definition

of terms was made. The following are chosen words with their

meanings:

Graduate Nurse - a person who finished formal nursing education

from an accredited school of nursing;

Health Care Institution- any agency offering medical and nursing

services;

Problems - is an issue or obstacle which makes it

difficult to achieve a desired goal, objective or

purpose. It refers to a situation, condition, or

issue that is yet unresolved. In a broad sense, a

problem exists when an individual becomes aware

of a significant difference between what actually

is and what is desired;

Quality of care - an attribute or kind of care given to the

client in the hospital.