Objective: The aim of this study is to explore how extreme work conditions influence nurses’ experiences of career shock in public hospitals. Research Methodology: This study employed a phenomenon-based approach to gain a deeper and more nuanced understanding of real-world phenomena. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 33 nurses working in public hospitals in Egypt. Thematic analysis was applied to analyze the interview data. Findings: The study identified three key factors contributing to nurses' perceptions of career shock under extreme work conditions: (1) Refugee-related factors (e.g., differential treatment of refugees compared to nationals, refugees as opportunities to supplement income); (2) Contextual factors (e.g., increased courtesy from nationals, rising patient numbers, demands for wage increases); and (3) Workplace factors (e.g., extended work hours, heavy job responsibilities, perceived treatment by managers). These factors were found to significantly influence nurses' perceptions of positive or negative career shocks. Originality: This research fills a gap in the literature on human resources, public administration, and healthcare by addressing the limited empirical studies on how extreme job duties shape streetlevel bureaucrats' (nurses, in this case) perceptions of career shock, particularly in developing and non-Western contexts.
Mousa, MohamedAlthalathini, Doaa Puhakka, Vesa
Oxford Brookes Business School
Year of publication: 2025Date of RADAR deposit: 2025-04-28