How emergency nurses cope and motivate themselves to sustain their caring work: An integrative literature review

Abstract

Aims and objectives The aim of this integrative review was to assess how emergency nurses cope and motivate themselves to sustain their caring work. Background The need to enhance sustainability of the workforce creates a demand to consolidate contemporary evidence related to emergency nurses’ motivations, how they cope and sustain themselves for caring work. Design and methods The integrative literature review informed by Whittemore and Knafl involved searching four databases, which yielded 977 published research papers (2008–2021). A total of 33 studies met the inclusion and quality assessment criteria. The PRISMA checklist for review was followed. Results No studies addressing all three areas (motivations, coping and caring sustainability) together were identified. Integration of evidence from quantitative and qualitative research was achieved in three categories: (1) emergency nurses’ motivations to sustain their work, (2) emergency nurses’ coping strategies and (3) sustaining care as emergency nurses. Conclusion To sustain themselves in caring work, emergency nurses need to be intrinsically and extrinsically motivated and know how to cope effectively with stressors and work demands. There is need for research examining the relationships between these aspects of emergency nursing work. Relevance to clinical practice To ensure the sustainability of emergency nurses’ work and careers understanding of the factors that influence and sustain their motivations and coping strategies is important for nurses and their clinical leaders and managers.

Emergency Nurses’ Job Demands-Resources Profiles and Capabilities: Effects on Performance and Intention to Leave

“…Functionings refer to individuals' states and actions (e.g., performance and intention to leave) that affect the sustainable employability of emergency nurses and the institutions that employ them. Emergency nurses' sustainable employability, in terms of performance and retention, is threatened if they cannot effectively navigate their work-related demands, as they risk unsatisfactory performance or consider leaving their job or profession [26]. However, based on the CA, van der Klink et al [24] argue that capabilities affect the work functioning of employees.…”