In the original study, head nurses (n=141), assistant head nurses (n=185), and staff nurses (n=426) were the participants. Their answers to an open-ended question about problems encountered as nursing professional were analyzed qualitatively, and forty one problem categories were formed.

In this study, the data were analyzed statistically to obtain the answers to the research questions. The results showed that 87.9% of head nurses, 71.9% of assistant head nurses, and 51.6% of staff nurses encountered problems in the nursing profession. There was a significant difference between the three groups in the percentage of nurses who encountered problems among the three groups was identified (p<.001). Among the 41 problems, “difficulty of communication or collaboration with various people in hospital” was the most common and serious problem for the three groups. However, the percentage of head nurses who described the problems, “difficulty in providing educational support for subordinate/younger nurses” and “difficulty in improving job design”, was higher than for assistant head nurses and staff nurses (p<.001). The percentage of assistant head nurses and staff nurses who described the problem, “work overload and chronic fatigue”, was higher than for head nurses (p<.01).

The results suggested that there are the commonalities and differences in the problems that hospital nurses encounter according to position. Developing effective continuing education program in nursing based on the findings of this study will promote quality nursing care through problem solving by each nurse.