Abstract of Dissertation

Keyword : Motivation, Nurses, Government Hospital, Locus of Control, Intrinsic Motivation

Background : Hospital nurses’ work motivation is widely important for providing high-quality health care, especially in the public health system. It is needed that evidence-based knowledge and studies on nurses’ work motivation are generated in order to establish the implications for effective motivation strategies and ultimately improvement of performance. The purpose of this study was to assess the levels of nurses’ work motivation and determine the factors associated with it. The study also sought to derive a relation between the demographic and work related variable of the nursing staff and their motivation levels. This was a cross-sectional study conducted over a sample of 400 nurses at Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital, Indore between February 2016 and April 2016.

Methodology : To fulfil the aims of the study, a questionnaire and two HR tools were used. These were based on the Locus of Control Theory by Rotter (1966) and Herzberg’s Two factor theory (1959), using which motivation levels of the nursing staff were obtained based on internality and intrinsic motivation among randomly selected respondents across all major departments of the hospital. These also helped in identifying the factors that led to motivation such clearly defined jobs, adequate salary, adequate in-service training, opportunity to serve the community, timely confirmation/promotion, balance between work and family among others. Data for demographic and work related variables such as working hours, position in the department, years in the profession, etc. were collected and motivation levels were tested for dependency on the same.

Findings : urses were more than moderately motivated to work. The majority of hospital nurses had a strong intrinsic work motivation and internality. Personal factors such as academic qualification, marital status, trainings, etc. affected their motivation significantly. Older nurses with a longer duration of service and/or a leading position had higher internal motivation. Lower level staff was found to have lower motivation levels and reasons for this can be attributed to lack of their say in organization.

Recommendations : As nursing is a profession taken by choice to serve the community, it is justified that the staff shows presence of intrinsic motivation. The reasons that contribute towards low motivation, wherever seen, are due to organizational factors and not personal. The hospital needs to use these findings to improve level of motivation, As health is sensitive and critical aspect, it is essential to deal sensitively and critically with those who handle it.


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