The personality of emergency nurses: Is it unique?

Background: With ever increasing demands on emergency services it is necessary to consider how to enhance the recruitment and retention of emergency nurses in public hospitals. Personality is known to influence occupational choice, yet there is a lack of research exploring how personality may influence the workforce decisions of emergency nurses. Methods: A standardised personality test instrument, the NEO (TM)-PI-3, was used in a survey design inclusive of demographic questions to measure personality characteristics. Data were collected from 72 emergency nurses working at an Australian Emergency Department between July and October 2012. The personality scores of emergency nurses were compared against general population norms in each of five personality domains and their 30 associated facets. Results: Participants scored higher than population norms in the domains of Extraversion (p < .001), Openness to experience (p < .001) and Agreeableness (p = .001), and in twelve facets, including excitement-seeking (p < .001) and competence (p = .003). Conclusion: The personality profile of this sample of emergency nurses is different to the population norm. Assessment of personality and knowledge of its influence on specialty selection may assist in improving retention and recruitment in emergency nursing. Crown Copyright (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of College of Emergency Nursing Australasia Ltd. All rights reserved.