Balancing Passion and Pressure in Academia: Experiences of Full-Time Nurse Faculty

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2026

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Journal of Professional Nursing

Source ISSN

8755-7223

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2026.08.002

Abstract

Background

There is a shortage of full-time nurse faculty needed to educate future nurses. Career decision-making and intention to leave the nurse faculty role is poorly understood.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore what full-time nursing faculty value in their faculty role, identify factors that contribute to exhaustion, and examine the influences that shape their career decisions.

Methods

This study was a reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative free text data obtained from a survey examining efforts, rewards, and intention to leave among full-time United States nurse faculty.

Results

Among a national sample of 503 participants, four themes were identified: interpersonal labor, authority of self-determination, complex view of compensation, and the future is nursing. Many codes overlapped between multiple themes and were intricately balanced in ways that nurse faculty described as impactful to their job satisfaction.

Conclusions

Many attributes of the nurse faculty role have the potential to be sources of both value and exhaustion. Interpersonal labor, compensation, leadership support, and autonomy must all be considered to maximize faculty satisfaction.

Comments

Journal of Professional Nursing, Vol. 66 (September-October 2026): 259-266. DOI.

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