Views of generation Z nurse candidates on their willingness to work in featured services in hospitals: A qualitative study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the willingness of generation Z nursing students to work in the specialized units, as well as their views about these units, and to find answers to issues such as which units they want to work in and why. In this study, the phenomenological design of the qualitative research method was used. The purposive sampling technique was preferred in the sample selection of the study. The sample consisted of 16 students who completed their internal medicine nursing course and continued their education in the second year at Adiyaman University Faculty of Health Sciences. A semi-structured 13-item interview form was used as a data collection tool. The content analysis technique was used to analyze the data. Following the analysis, seven sub-themes were obtained. In the study, seven sub-themes were determined including explaining the reasons for specialized units, willingness to work in specialized units, choosing a particular specialized unit, getting support in deciding on the specialized units, the contribution of nursing education to deciding on the specialized units, research for specialized units, and physical opportunities in the specialized units. In accordance with the determined sub-themes, it was concluded that Z-generation nursing students desired to work in specialized units due to their professional development, improved patient care, more economic income, less violence towards healthcare workers in these units, as well as being informed by the lecturers, and sufficient physical opportunities.