Relation between socio-demographic factors and professionalism among nurses in Saudi Arabia: A comparative analysis

Hussein Alshumrani (Regional Nursing Administration, Bisha Health Affairs, Saudi Arabia)
Bander Albagawi (Medical Surgical Department, College of Nursing, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia)
Sandro Villareal (Medical Surgical Department, College of Nursing, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia)
Benito Areola Jr (Medical Surgical Department, College of Nursing, Shaqra University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
Hamdan Albaqawi (Medical Surgical Department, College of Nursing, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia)
Saleh Algamdi (Regional Nursing Administration, Bisha Health Affairs, Saudi Arabia)
Abdulrahman Alerwi (Intensive Care Area (SICU, MICU, Burn Unit and COVID-19 ICU), King Fahad Hospital, Madina, Saudi Arabia)
Ahmed Saad Altheban (College of Nursing, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia)
Seham Alanazi (Leadership and Management Department, College of Nursing, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia)

Belitung Nursing Journal
Vol. 8 No. 2 (2022): March - April

Background: Analyzing how nurses handle professionalism in their careers will help all concerned individuals identify areas of concern to develop and enhance further to achieve or maintain a high degree of professionalism. Objective: This study aimed to determine the level of professionalism among nurses and its differences according to socio-demographic characteristics. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional approach was utilized in three significant regions of Saudi Arabia. A simple random sampling technique was employed with 305 respondents, resulting in a 95.9% response rate. A Google Form survey was used to collect the data between January and April 2021. Results: Nurses perceived themselves highly in professional organization (Mean = 3.94, SD = 0.17), belief in public service (Mean = 3.91, SD = 0.22), belief in self-regulation (Mean = 3.97, SD = 0.08), sense of calling (Mean = 4.01, SD = 0.13), and belief in autonomy (Mean = 3.71, SD = 0.15). There was no significant difference between gender and professional organization, belief in public service, self-regulation, or belief in autonomy. Still, there was a significant difference in belief in public service (t = 2.794; p = 0.006) and sense of calling (t = 4.290; p = 0.001). As to age, only belief in self-regulation was significant (t = 5.984; p = 0.003). Moreover, the educational qualifications reached an insignificant difference in professionalism. Conversely, the type of facility has been found to have reached significant differences with a professional organization (F = 3.057; p = 0.029), belief in public service (F = 4.130; p = 0.007), beliefs in regulation (F = 3.452; p = 0.017), sense of calling (F = 3.211; p = 0.023), and belief in autonomy (F = 5.995; p = 0.001). Lastly, the current position found no significant difference in professionalism. Conclusion: Nurses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia perceived themselves as highly professional, and male nurses were found to have a sense of calling more than their female counterparts. Age, educational qualification, and current position had no significant difference in professionalism. Conversely, the type of facility had a significant difference with the belief in autonomy. These findings support and sustain the role of nurses in this 21st-century health care that is significantly needed to provide the most quality care.