Personal, Social, and Institutional Factors Influencing Nursing Career Decisions: Evidence from a Post-Conflict Philippine Setting
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Nursing remains a socially relevant and globally in-demand profession, yet students often struggle to make
informed career decisions and maintain sustained motivation. This study explored the factors shaping nursing
students’ career choices and the challenges they face at Mindanao State University – College of Health Sciences
(MSU-CHS), Marawi City. Using a cross-sectional descriptive design, data were collected from 231 students
through a structured questionnaire assessing personal, interpersonal, and social influences, as well as access to
career, counseling. Descriptive statistics highlighted that personal motivations, particularly caring for ill family
members and a strong commitment to service, were the most significant drivers of career choice. Interpersonal
encouragement from family and mentors, and admiration for nurses, also shaped decisions, while social factors
such as financial security and opportunities for overseas employment were influential. Students reported major
challenges, including academic pressure, financial limitations, and external expectations. Most respondents
indicated limited access to effective career counseling. Findings emphasize the need to strengthen institutional
support by improving counseling, mental health services, and financial assistance, and by engaging parents,
faculty, and community partners more effectively to prepare resilient, committed future nurses
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Ait Ali D, Ncila O, Ouhhamou S, Rizzo A, Chirico F, Khabbache H. Motivations Driving Career Choices: Insights From a Study Among Nursing Students. SAGE Open Nursing. 2024;10. doi:10.1177/23779608241255876
Anieche, J. E., & Standley, I. B. (2022). Influencing Factors in the Choice of Nursing as Carrier: A Study of Students in Nursing Training in Anambra State Nigeria. International Journal of Medical Science and Health Research 6(4),113-125.
doi: 10.51505/ijmshr.2022.6409
Anizoba, E. C., & Aande, S. I. (2021). A critical evaluation of religious syncretism among the Igbo Christians of Nigeria. Acta Theologica, 41(2), 10-22. https://doi.org/10.18820/23099089/actat.v41i2.2
Babajide, O. J., & Esther, O. O. (2020). Factors influencing career choice among students of the schools of nursing and midwifery In Akure. Lautech Journal Of Nursing (LJN), 7(1), 91-96.
Cilar, L., Spevan, M., Trifkovič, K. Č., & Štiglic, G. (2020). What motivates students to enter nursing? Findings from a cross-sectional study. Nurse education today, 90, 104463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2020.104463Get rights and content
CHED. (2013). CHED Memorandum Order No. 9, Series of 2013: Enhanced policies and guidelines on student affairs and services. Commission on Higher Education.
Dacanay, J. C., & Ocampo, M. L. (2021). Determinants of nursing career choice among Filipino students. Philippine Journal of Nursing, 91(2), 12–21.
Elibol, E., & Harmancı, A. K. (2017). Reasons nursing students choose the nursing profession and their nursing image perceptions: A survey study. Nursing Practice Today, 4(2), 67–78. http://npt.tums.ac.ir
Elif, I., Kanbay, Y., & Aslan, Ö. (2015). Factors influencing the career choice of nursing students. GSTF Journal of Nursing and Health Care, 2(2), 49–50.
FIJI National University (2024). Nurses must help the sick and needy – Rawaikela. https://www.fnu.ac.fj/blog/nurses-have-a-duty-tohelp-the-sick-and-needy-rawaikela/
Geok Lim, S., & Bin Muhtar, M. A. (2016). Factors influencing nursing students' decision to choose nursing. International e-journal of science, medicine & education, 10(2).
Holland, J. L. (1997). Making vocational choices: A theory of vocational personalities and work environments (3rd ed.). Psychological Assessment Resources.
Hsu MHK, Ye QH, Ling MH. Career Preferences among Nursing Students: A Cross-Sessional Study. SAGE Open Nursing. 2022;8. doi:10.1177/23779608221094538
Işık, E., Kanbay, Y. & Aslan, Ö. (2015). Factors Influencing the Career Choice of Nursing Students. GSTF J Nurs Health Care 2, 19. https://doi.org/10.7603/s40743-015-0019-1
Kandil, F., El Seesy, N., & Banakhar, M. (2021). Factors affecting students’ preference for nursing education and their intent to leave: A cross-sectional study. The Open Nursing Journal, 15(1), 1-8. DOI: 10.2174/1874434602115010001
Kinanee, J. B. (2009). Factors in the career decision-making of nurses in Rivers State of Nigeria: Implications for counseling. Journal of Psychology and Counseling, 1(8), 134–138. http://www.academicjournals.org/JPC
Kline, Donna. (2003). Push and Pull Factors in International Nurse Migration. Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing / Sigma Theta Tau. 35. 107-11. 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2003.00107.x
Labrague LJ, McEnroe-Petitte DM, Papathanasiou IV, Edet OB, Tsaras K, Leocadio MC, Colet P, Kleisiaris CF, Fradelos EC, Rosales RA, Vera Santos-Lucas K, Velacaria PIT. Stress and coping strategies among nursing students: an international study. J Ment Health. 2018 Oct;27(5):402-408. 10.1080/09638237.2017.1417552
Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., & Hackett, G. (1994). Toward a unifying social cognitive theory of career and academic interest, choice, and performance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 45(1), 79–122. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.1994.1027
Mbavai, J. J., Joseph, M., Bayoh, I., & Bebeley, S. J. (2023). Factors influencing the increase in the choice of nursing as a career among students at the Department of Nursing, Njala University, Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone. Journal of Clinical Medicine and Research, 12(1), 7–14. DOI:10.5897/JCMR2022.0335
McKenna, L., Mambu, I. R., Sommers, C. L., Reisenhofer, S., & McCaughan, J. (2023). Nurses and nursing students' reasons for entering the profession: Content analysis of open-ended questions. BMC Nursing, 22, 152. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01307-8
Mendoza, R. P., & Cruz, M. A. (2021). Challenges and coping strategies of nursing students in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 5(2), 25–33.
Millner, C. L. (2019). A Career in Nursing: Calling or Choice? Journal of Christian Nursing, 36(4), 236-237. DOI: 10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000647
Montayre, J. G., Montayre, J. C., & Bandong, C. J. (2016). Family and caregiving values: Factors influencing career choice of Filipino nursing students. University of the Visayas Journal of Research, 10(1), 15–17.
National Economic and Development Authority–BARMM. (2023). Bangsamoro Regional Development Plan 2023–2028. NEDA-BARMM. https://bangsamoro.gov.ph/downloads/bangsamoro-regional-development-plan-2023-2028/
Nwodoh, C. O., & Ugwu, C. C. (2024). Factors that influenced the choice for nursing career among selected Nigerian undergraduate nursing students. African Journal of Biomedical Research, 27(4S), 1374-1380. https://doi.org/10.53555/AJBR.v27i4S.1746
Olukayode, A. F., Agbesanwa, T. A., Dele-Ojo, B. F., Fadare, J. O., Awoleke, A., & Inubile, A. J. (2022). Factors Influencing the Choice of Geriatric Nursing as an Area of Specialization among Nursing Students in Ekiti, Nigeria. Saudi J Nurs Health Care, 5(10): 240-244. https://doi.org/10.36348/sjnhc.2022.v05i10.005
Omari, R. B., Masanja, P. P., Masika, G. M., & Hussein, M. R. (2023). Secondary school Students' perspectives about nursing career and their motivations to become future nurses in Singida municipal: A qualitative study. Nursing Open, 10(10), 7014–7024. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1957
Oyadeyi, J. B., & Olafusi, O. E. (2020). Factors influencing career choice among students of the schools of nursing and midwifery in Akure. Lautech New Edition, August 2020, 1–10.
Özcan, S., & KEMER, A. S. (2021). Hemşirelik öğrencilerinin kariyer seçiminde aile etkisinin değerlendirilmesi. MAS Journal of Applied Sciences, 6(4), 899-908. https://doi.org/10.52520/masjaps.123
Pham, M., Lam, B. Q., & Bui, A. T. N. (2024). Career exploration and its influence on the relationship between self-efficacy and career choice: The moderating role of social support. Heliyon, 10(11), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31808
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2021). 2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH): Population counts by province, city, municipality and barangay. https://psa.gov.ph/population-and-housing/node/164811
Republic of the Philippines. (2004). Republic Act No. 9258: Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004. https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2004/ra_9258_2004.html
Salminen-Tuomaala, M., & Herttuala, N. (2022). What factors influenced students’ decision to choose nursing. European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS), 10(5), 284-293. https://doi.org/10.14738/aivp.105.13237
Teresa-Morales, C., Rodriguez-Perez, M., & Ramos-Pichardo, J. D. (2023). Reasons for choosing and completing nursing studies among incoming and outgoing students: A qualitative study. Nurse education today, 125, 105794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2023.105794
Tiliander, A., Olsson, C., Kalèn, S., Ponzer, S. S., & Fagerdahl, A. (2022). Factors affecting nurses' decision to undergo a specialist education and to choose a specialty. Nursing Open, 10(1), 252-263. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1300