Challenges, And Nurses’ Job Performance in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar Cross River State Nigeria

Nurses play major roles in the health care delivery system caring for patients but despite how important their contributions are not much has been done to make their working conditions favorable, consequently they are forced to practice under unfavorable conditions and this negatively influences their level of motivation, morale and productivity. The purpose of the study was to assess challenges, and nurses' job performance in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar Cross river state. The following specific objectives were set; to ascertain the extent to which low remuneration influences nurses job performance, to ascertain the extent to which shortage of nursing staff influences nurses job performance, to ascertain the extent to which lack of equipment and materials influences nurses job performance, 3 research questions where developed in line with the research objectives. Extensive literature review of the 3 variables was done and the theoretical framework adopted for the study was the Herzberg two factor theory of motivation. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study and the convenient sampling technique was used in selecting 240 respondents using the Taro Yamane's formula. Data was obtained using a 27 item structured questionnaire constructed in line with the research question which was duly validated and reliability ensured. Data obtained was analyzed using Statistical software package (SPSS) and result gotten was presented using tables, and percentages. Result from the analysis showed that 80% of the respondents supported the view that low remuneration negatively influenced nurses job performance, 90% of the respondents supported the notion that shortage of nursing staff negatively affects the quality of care nurses render,96.2% agreed with the opinion that regular equipment and material where needed to enable nurses execute their duties effectively,95.8% supported the view that innovation in nursing is essential to improve more quality of care nurses render and 81.4% supported the view that barriers such as lack of support from management, lack of interest by nurses, resistance to change, financial constraint ,shortage of nursing staff etc, hindered the progress of nurses led innovation. Findings from the study also revealed that there was a significant relationship between shortage of nursing staff and nurses led innovation. Based on these findings, the researcher recommended that government provides adequate funding to health care facilities for procurement of equipment and materials, ensure regular employment of nurses, ensure increment in salaries and allowances of nurses, and provide adequate funding of researches to nurses.