Abstract

This paper investigated the factors in the career decision-making of nurses in Rivers State of Nigeria. The sample was made up of 128 participants, comprising an equal number of nurses and student-nurses selected from three health institutions in Rivers State of Nigeria; two General Hospitals and a School of Nursing. A standardized instrument titled “Motivation for Occupational Preference Scale” (MOPS) was administered to elicit information about the relative influence of the external and internal variables on the vocational choice of nurses. Three null hypotheses were formulated for the study; the data obtained were analysed using the chi-square technique for the first two hypotheses, and the t-test statistic for the third. The results showed no significant relationship between external variables and career decision-making; a significant relationship between internal influence and career decision-making; and no significant sex difference in the career decision-making factors of nurses. Based on the findings, counselling implications and recommendations were made.

Key words: Motivation, career choice, nursing, counselling, vocation, MOPS.