Role of Career Satisfaction in Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Career Commitment of Nurses in Nigeria: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to test how basic psychological needs satisfaction contributes to career commitment through career satisfaction among nurses.


BACKGROUND
There is an increasing rate of turnover among nurses and a general shortage of nurses in many countries. This has made it necessary for researchers to focus on the career satisfaction of nurses and their commitment to their careers.


DESIGN AND METHODS
A cross-sectional design was employed in a survey of 233 nurses in public hospitals in southeastern Nigeria. Participants responded to self-report measures of career commitment, career satisfaction, and work-related basic needs satisfaction.


FINDINGS
In the regression-based path analysis, basic psychological needs satisfaction was positively related to career satisfaction (p < .001) and career commitment (p < .001) of nurses. Career satisfaction was positively related to career commitment (p < .05). Career satisfaction mediated the relationship between basic psychological needs satisfaction and career commitment (95% confidence interval [.009, .068]).


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that basic psychological needs are relevant for employee commitment, giving support to the self-determination theory. Career satisfaction provides further explanations for the relationship between psychological needs satisfaction and career commitment, although there could be reverse causal links.


CLINICAL RELEVANCE
The results advance knowledge on how satisfaction of basic psychological needs can increase career satisfaction and foster more career commitment. Designing work environments that help employees to fulfil their basic psychological needs is important in the retention of nurses.
['Onyishi|Ike E|IE|', 'Enwereuzor|Ibeawuchi K|IK|', 'Ogbonna|Martina N|MN|', 'Ugwu|Fabian O|FO|', 'Amazue|Lawrence O|LO|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005260:Female D006779:Hospitals, Public D006801:Humans D007588:Job Satisfaction D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009549:Nigeria D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital D026684:Personal Autonomy D010549:Personal Satisfaction D010563:Personnel Turnover D012044:Regression Analysis D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D017132:Workplace D055815:Young Adult
career satisfaction Basic psychological needs satisfaction career commitment nurses self-determination theory