Purpose
The aim of this study was to explore perceived future Career pathway, as well as career shift tendency among nursing graduates in Egypt. This study also investigated factors influencing career shift tendency and examine the relation between career pathway perception and career shift tendency.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study was used, with an online distributed questionnaire for study participants from different nursing graduates’ categories (technical institute, bachelor's degree, postgraduate degrees practicing in clinical settings (staff nurses, nurse educators, and nurse leaders), academic settings. That included demographic characteristics, a section that measured nursing graduates’ future career pathway perception, and career shift tendency.
Results
Nursing graduates in Egypt were having a positive perception regarding their future career pathway. However, more than one quarter of them were considering career shift represents potential workforce instability and dissatisfaction within the nursing profession and financial factors was one of the main provoking drivers for career shift tendency. In addition, nursing graduates’ perception of career pathway had a significant effect on their career shift tendency in future.
Conclusion
Based on the findings of this study, further efforts should be made to confront nursing shortage in Egypt, implementing targeted interventions to support nursing graduates in navigating their career pathways. Additionally, proactive measures should be taken to address the identified factors driving intentions to leave the profession, such as improving workplace conditions, fostering intergenerational collaboration, and offering mentorship programs. These strategies are essential for fostering a resilient and satisfied nursing workforce and ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care in the healthcare sector.