Measuring Motivational Differences for Selecting a Nursing or Health Services Administration Major and Examining Opportunities for Shared Learning

摘要

According to the literature, health profession students are most motivated by a desire to help others, a personal or family experience in healthcare, career aspirations, and a love of science and health. The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) determine what motivated studentsto select a nursing or Health Services Administration (HSA) major; (2) determine if there were differences in motivations based on major; and (3) determine if the motivation for selecting a major differed among sophomore and senior students. A mixed methods approach was used to analyze surveydata collected from 195 Nursing and HSA students. Results of the qualitative analysis yielded five general themes of student motivation: helping others, personal experience, healthcare industry, the job itself, and other. The top motivation found in this study was helping people (36%). Amongeach major, 51% of nursing students were motivated to help people; whereas, 45% of HSA majors were motivated based on factors related to the job. This finding presents an opportunity to discuss interdisciplinary development across the majors. Nursing students should be provided the exposureand opportunity to gain a broader understanding of the healthcare industry and to gain an awareness of how their profession fits into the larger structure of the healthcare system. On that same front, HSA students should be exposed to and understand the patient side of healthcare in orderto enhance their desire to help others and learn that patient-centered care should be the priority in the industry.