The Impact of Nursing Professionalism on the Nursing Performance and Retention Intention among Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses / 간호행정학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of nursing professionalism on the nursing performance and retention intention among psychiatric mental health nurses. METHODS: As a descriptive correlational study, this study sampled 206 psychiatric mental health nurses in six hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi area through convenience sampling. Data were collected from March 2 to 31, 2009 using a self-report questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 16.0. RESULTS: In the subscales of professionalism, the 'Sense of calling' had the highest mean score while the 'Professional organization' had the lowest mean score. A significant positive correlation was observed in nursing professionalism, nursing performance and retention intention. According to an analysis on the impact of each subscale of nursing professionalism on nursing performance and retention intention, the 'Sense of calling' and 'Autonomy' were the most significant predictor variable. CONCLUSION: The results confirmed that the improvement of psychiatric mental health nurses' professionalism increases their nursing performance and retention intention and the 'Sense of calling' and 'Autonomy' are critical prediction factors. It is necessary to come up with a strategy which strengthens nursing professionalism in order to improve psychiatric mental health nurses' performance and retention intention.