Motivational Factors and Barriers Related to Saudi Arabian Nurses' Pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

The purpose of this exploratory descriptive study was to determine motivational factors in relation to demographic factors associated with Saudi Arabian registered nurses’ (RN) pursuit of a bachelor of science in nursing (RN-to-BSN) degree, to compare demographic data and assessment of motivational factors across health care sectors in Saudi Arabia, and to identify barriers to RN-to-BSN study. 

The study examined Saudi Arabian nurses who are pursuing RN-to-BSN studies or those who finished an RN-to-BSN program within the last five years.  A convenience sample (N = 158) was recruited in Saudi Arabia from universities and colleges, hospitals in the western region of Saudi Arabia, and via Saudi Arabian Cultural Missions in USA and New Zealand.  To achieve a significance level of .05, power of 0.80, the minimum requirement was established at 102 subjects. 

Findings included the most significant factors for participants to return to school: to enable me to enter graduate school for master of science in nursing (MSN) or other degree, the personal satisfaction of receiving a degree, to acquire an additional credential for my record, to learn something new, to keep me up to date professionally, to interact with professional colleagues, to obtain a higher salary either in my current or a different job, and the increasing demand for advanced training for RNs in all settings.

A principal component analysis extracted eight factors, the availability of social support, socialization, changes in healthcare system, employer’s expectations, personal satisfaction, cultural factors, plan for career change, and professional growth.  Findings indicated the barriers that prevent Saudi Arabian nurses from returning to school: the difficulty in getting a scholarship, complexities of scholarship requirements, difficulties getting admission to nursing programs either in Saudi Arabia or internationally, lack of support from nursing administration, finances, social and culture barriers, and work environment.