Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40618159›Full record

ArticleBMC nursing2025

Enablers and barriers in the professional development of nurses employed full-time at university nursing studies in Croatia: a qualitative study.

Lara Vinko, Valentina Koscak, Mia Plenkovic, Ivica Matic, Marta Civljak, Marin Cargo, Vesna Mijoc, Ivana Barac, Sanja Zoranic, Mario Marendic and 9 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Lara VinkoCenter for Evidence-Based Medicine and Health Care, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-4128-1086
Valentina KoscakDubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0445-642X
Mia PlenkovicUniversity of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6509-0495
Ivica MaticCenter for Evidence-Based Medicine and Health Care, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4334-1158
Marta CivljakCenter for Evidence-Based Medicine and Health Care, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6211-0174
Marin CargoCenter for Evidence-Based Medicine and Health Care, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0189-4168
Vesna MijocCenter for Evidence-Based Medicine and Health Care, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7236-3036
Ivana BaracFaculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7539-2019
Sanja ZoranicDepartment of Nursing, University of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3686-2353
Mario MarendicFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Split, Split, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2968-1175
Marijana NeubergDepartment of Nursing, University North, Varazdin, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1850-3808
Dijana MajstorovicFaculty of Medicine, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Pula, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2933-7497
Alen BrecekUniversity of Applied Sciences Ivanic-Grad, Ivanic-Grad, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-4450-0901
Kata IvanisevicFaculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5830-2640
Andrea VuksaDepartment of Health Studies, Sibenik University of Applied Sciences, Sibenik, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-6278-052X
Natasa SkitarelicDepartment of Health Studies, University of Zadar, Zadar, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7155-8648
Zrinka PuharicFaculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2274-8293
Snjezana CukljekFaculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6435-5818
Livia PuljakCenter for Evidence-Based Medicine and Health Care, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia. livia.puljak@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8467-6061

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMultiple studies have highlighted the challenges faced by nurse educators working in an academic setting. However, to date, no published research has explored this issue in the Croatian context. This study explored and described the enablers and barriers to the professional development of full-time nurses employed in university-level nursing education programs in Croatia.

methodsA qualitative study was conducted from February to March 2024. Participants were full-time nurse educators holding teaching positions at 12 university-level nursing programs across Croatia. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide and analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis.

resultsOf the 58 individuals who met the inclusion criteria, 52 (90%) nurse educators participated in the study. The sample comprised 10 men and 42 women, ranging in age from 28 to 64 years. Participants identified work overload, particularly the burden of administrative tasks and competing responsibilities, as the primary barrier to their professional development. Additional challenges included limited time and resources, difficulties in organising clinical practice and mentoring, and a perceived disconnect between academic and clinical settings. Despite these challenges, the majority of participants reported overall satisfaction with their academic careers, highlighting the intrinsic value of knowledge dissemination, student engagement, and professional growth. Institutional support was noted in the form of co-financed educational opportunities, mentorship, and involvement in decision-making processes.

conclusionThe findings of this study indicate that improvements in working conditions and employment policies are needed to enhance job satisfaction among nurses employed in university nursing programs in Croatia. Key areas for intervention include reducing administrative burdens, strengthening management and organizational structures, increasing institutional support, and promoting access to continuous professional education. These factors are essential to fostering the professional development of nurses within an academic setting. CLINICAL

trial registrationNot applicable. This study was not a clinical trial.

Indexed as

Administrative personnelCareer mobilityCroatiaEducation, nursingFaculty, medicalFaculty, nursingJob satisfactionMentorsNursingOrganizational culturePersonnel turnoverProfessional competenceQualitative researchSchools, nursingWorkload

Identifiers

PMID40618159
PMCPMC12229026

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.