The mediating role of achievement motivation in the impact of clinical nurses’ individual-organizational fit on career success

TL;DR

This study explores how achievement motivation influences the relationship between nurses' fit with their organization and their perception of career success.

Contribution

The study identifies how achievement motivation dimensions mediate the impact of personal-organizational fit on nurses' career success perception.

Findings

Personal-organizational fit is positively correlated with nurses' career success perception.

The motive of avoiding failure negatively affects career success perception, while pursuing success positively impacts it.

Both success pursuit and failure avoidance motives mediate the relationship between personal-organizational fit and career success perception.

Abstract

This study investigates the mediating role of achievement motivation in the relationship between nurses’ personal-organizational fit and their perception of career success. Additionally, it examines how the dimensions of pursuing success and avoiding failure within achievement motivation influence nurses’ career success perception.

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted, with 366 nurses from Linyi City serving as research participants between August and November 2024. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Amos and SPSS statistical software.

(1) Personal-organizational fit exhibited a significant positive correlation with nurses’ career success perception. (2) The motive of avoiding failure negatively influenced career success perception, whereas the motive of pursuing success positively impacted it. (3) After controlling for demographic variables such as gender, age, education level, and professional title, both pursuing success and avoiding failure motives significantly mediated the relationship between personal-organizational fit and career success perception.

Clinical nurses demonstrate a moderate level of career success perception. Nursing managers can foster a harmonious work environment to enhance clinical nurses’ achievement motivation, thereby improving their career success perception. Practical strategies include enhancing personal-organizational fit, strengthening the motive of pursuing success, and mitigating the motive of avoiding failure, which can directly or indirectly elevate nurses’ career success perception.

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