The Effect of Nurses’ Characteristics and Motivation on the Development of Their Career Intentions

The aim of this study is to enrich nursing education by clarifying the relationship between personality traits, motivation, and career paths in professional nursing. This cross-sectional study surveyed 150 nurses from a polyclinic in Japan that performs internal medicine and surgery. The survey covered several aspects of personality, work motivation, and career development using the Ten-Item Personality Inventory, Work Motivation Scale, and Nurses’ Job Career Scale. The demographics of the participants were also recorded. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the personality traits extraversion and agreeableness had a direct and positive impact on nurses’ interest in team collaboration, but not on career development. Interest in career improvement was related to conscientiousness as a power toward purpose and openness as an aspect of curiosity. Conscientiousness and openness were indirectly related to the development and adjustment of interpersonal relationships and self-capability development through interest in career improvement. Interest in patient support positively impacted the implementation and pursuit of quality nursing. The findings highlight the need to account for individual differences in personality and motivation to support nurses’ success during their nursing education and in the workplace.