Intensive Care Nurses' Reports Regarding Professional Commitment

The purpose of this research study was to examine the reports of Intensive Care nurses with at least ten years of experience in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) regarding their professional commitment. The study was designed to elicit participants' perceptions of the impact of their job commitment, related to emotional and physical demands, threats and support encounter from relatives, social support, autonomy and professional development. Results from a study focusing on these key variables affecting professional commitment could help to improve the hospital work environment and retention of Intensive Care nurses.;The research applied van Dam et al.'s (2012) work characteristics as the lens for examining ICU nurses' professional commitment. According to van Dam et al.'s work characteristics are important indicators of retention and job satisfaction.;Face to face interviews were conducted to collect the data for this research study. Study volunteers participated in one 45-60 minute individual interview. Eight ICU nurses, from Connecticut and Massachusetts participated in the study. Procedures associated with qualitative research were used to analyze the data, which consisted of verbatim transcripts of in-person interviews. This yielded 15 key findings. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations for practice and future research were presented.;Interview data indicated that ICU nurses' commitment can be positively or negatively impacted by emotional demands, physical demands, and threats from relatives and support from relatives, social support, autonomy and professional development. Study participants' reports of job commitment revealed emotional demands as having both a positive and negative impact on their job commitment, while physical demands exposed only negative effects. Participants, also revealed threats from relatives while caring for their critically ill patients as negatively impacting their professional commitment, and support from relatives as positively affecting their professional commitment. Social support from family, friends, co-workers and the community impacted ICU nurses' job commitment positively. Overall, participants perceived that their xvii autonomy of their practice when making decisions about nursing care and communication with physicians as positively affecting their job commitment. In addition, opportunities for professional development and certification in Critical Care nursing positively impacted job commitment.