Does the presence of calling relate to career success? The role of strengths use and deficit correction among nurses

Background: The presence of calling has been associated with beneficial outcomes for nurses, yet our understanding of these effects remains limited. Additionally, the mechanisms linking the presence of calling to these outcomes have not been well established in the nursing literature. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the presence of calling and nurses’ career success, mediated by the parallel effects of strengths use and deficit correction. Design: A cross-sectional design was used. Methods: Data were collected from December 2022 to April 2023, involving 237 nurses working in six hospitals in Port Said, Egypt. The study utilized the Demographic Information Form, the Presence of Calling Scale, the Strengths Use Scale, the Deficit Correction Scale, and the Career Success Scale. Study hypotheses were evaluated using structural equation modeling. Results: Presence of calling positively related to nurses’ career success. Furthermore, nurses’ strengths use and deficit correction played a mediating role in the relationship between the presence of calling and career success. Conclusion: Nurses who view their work as a calling are more inclined to utilize their strengths and address their deficits, resulting in a heightened sense of career success. Implication for nursing policymaking: Emphasising that nursing is a calling should commence during the undergraduate education of nurses, and this concept should be continually cultivated by hospital administrators throughout their professional careers. This approach empowers nurses to leverage their strengths, address their deficits, and ultimately enhance their sense of success in their nursing careers.