Factors deterring registered nurses from pursuing post graduate nursing degree in a private hospital in Penang, Malaysia
- Author:
Mei Foong Ng
;
Bee Yean Ooi
;
Wei Fern Siew
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
bachelor degree in nursing;
continuing education;
nursing education;
Malaysian nurses
- MeSH:
Education, Nursing
- From:International e-Journal of Science, Medicine and Education
2015;9(3):38-46
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background: In Malaysia the percentage of diploma
registered nurses outnumber the percentage of degree
registered nurses. Internationally, most registered nurses
earn associate degrees or bachelor’s degrees in nursing.
Malaysia is in the pipeline of ensuring that its registered
nurses are professionally qualified with nursing degree by
year 2020. Registered nurses with diploma qualification
are feeling the pressure to upgrade their qualification to
degree. There are concerns as to why these nurses are
not pursuing their post registration nursing degree.
Objective: To determine factors that are deterring the
registered nurses of a private hospital in Penang from
pursuing the post registered nursing degree.
Methods: This descriptive study utilised a convenient
sample of 150 registered nurses from Lam Wah Ee
Hospital in Penang. The instrument of this study was
developed based on literature search and the conceptual
framework of Force Fields Analysis developed by Kurt
Lewin in 1952.
Results: The deterring factors for registered nurses
not pursuing post registration nursing degree from this
hospital were determined through negative mean score,
which was valued at less than 2.5. The top 3 deterring
factors identified were: high educational cost, with a
score of 1.92; financial commitment, with a score of 2.22
and time constraints and high workload, with a score of
2.27.
Conclusions: High educational cost, financial
commitment, time constraint and high workload were
the main factors deterring the registered nurses from
this hospital from pursuing their post registration
nursing degree. Thus it is timely for the organisational
management to consider workable measures to assist
and motivate their nurses to upgrade themselves with
nursing degree in line with Malaysia’s vision to meet the
increasing challenges and complex needs in the care of
clients in health services.
- Full text:P020151207425465316486.pdf
