Abstract
Background: Although in the past, the decision to enter the nursing profession was mainly due to intrinsic motives, more recent generations present additional extrinsic career choice motives. The motivation of choosing a nursing career may be affected by global health events, such as COVID-19.
Purpose: To examine the motivation for choosing a nursing career during COVID-19.
Methods: A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted among 211 first-year nursing students at a university in Israel. A questionnaire was distributed during 2020 and 2021. Linear regression evaluated the motives that predict choosing a nursing career during COVID-19.
Results: Intrinsic motives were the leading motives for choosing a nursing career in a univariate analysis. A multivariate linear model revealed that choosing a nursing career during the pandemic was associated with extrinsic motives ([beta]= .265, P < .001). Intrinsic motives did not predict choosing a nursing career during COVID-19.
Conclusion: Reassessment of motives among candidates may help the efforts of faculty and nursing to recruit and retain nurses in the profession.