ASSESSMENT OF CAREER FULFILMENT AMONG PRACTING RADIOGRAPHERS IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

  Background of the study

Career fulfillment of radiographers has been found to be an important factor affecting productivity and has received considerable interest.

The subject of Carrier fulfilment is particularly relevant and of interest to radiographers due to the fact that organizational and employees’ health and well-being rest a great deal on Carrier fulfilment 1.This is particularly important because radiographers in a healthcare delivery system are expected to provide quality patient care while working in a highly stressful environment (Faye, 2013).

The evidence from published research points to specific determinants and correlates of Carrier fulfilment and productivity. Various studies have established that dissatisfaction with one’s job may result in higher employee turnover, absenteeism, tardiness and grievances. Improved job satisfaction resulting from Carrier fulfilment, on the other hand, results in increased productivity (Goetz et al., 2012).

Every individual has unique needs and desires that need to be satisfied, which are related to the behaviour they exhibit, and these play a significant role in their preferences in different areas such as their workplace. Social, cultural and job factors all influence employees’ behaviour (Lehman et al., 2015).

Overall Carrier fulfilment is actually a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic job satisfaction. Intrinsic job satisfaction is when workers consider only the kind of work they do and the tasks that make up the job, while extrinsic job satisfaction is when workers considers the conditions of the work, such as but not limited to pay, co- workers, management style and communication (Blaauw et al., 2013).

From the point of view of practicing radiographers, Carrier fulfilment may reflect benefits that people might be looking for when they take the job; these benefits are usually determined by the employer based on their strategy to be profitable and competitive in recruiting and retaining people. On the other hand job-related factors that affect satisfaction relate to employees’ desire to use their skills and abilities to make a meaningful contribution and to be valued. From an organization’s point of view, they employ people to perform specific tasks in order to achieve their business goals. When organizations finds people who fit their job requirements and are happy with what is being offered, then a win-win situation is created between the employer and the employee (Okaro et al., 2010).

Many organizational scholars have shown interest in why some people report being satisfied with their jobs, while others express lower levels of job satisfaction. However, not much is known about which factors influence job satisfaction in hospital staffs. 

Satisfied employees tend to be more productive and committed to their jobs. In a healthcare setting, employee Carrier fulfilment has been found to be positively related to quality of service and patient satisfaction. Employees can directly influence patient satisfaction in that their involvement and interaction with patients plays a significant role in quality perception (Visser and Marais, 2012).

A number of studies have looked into Carrier fulfilment in the healthcare setting and the focus was on the need to understand Carrier fulfilment of healthcare providers such as radiographers. 

Goblar suggested a motivation–hygiene theory where factors influencing Carrier fulfilment are separate from those that lead to job dissatisfaction. Factors leading to Carrier fulfilment, described as motivators, were promotional and personal growth opportunities, responsibility, achievement and recognition (Gronroos and Pajukari, 2010). These are factors that are intrinsically rewarding to the individual. Extrinsic factors, described as “hygiene” factors, leading to Carrier fulfilment include pay, physical working conditions, job security, company policies, quality of supervision and relationship with others (Myhren et al., 2013).

Factors contributing to high levels of Carrier fulfilment have been identified as: supportive colleagues, supportive working conditions, mentally challenging work and equitable rewards.

Statement of problems

Many workers on a daily basis do their jobs without being satisfied. Likewise, many of them expected so much in their chosen career, but are not fulfilled therein. This does not leave radiographers out as a number of them working in both academic and clinical lines are either fulfilled or not fulfilled in their career. This is why the study was embarked on to assess career fulfilment among practicing radiographers in south east Nigeria.

Objectives of study

The objectives of the study are;

·        To examine Academic radiographer’s views on the different facets of their Jobs

·        To examine clinical radiographer’s views on the different facets of their Jobs

·        To assess the overall satisfaction among clinical and academic radiographers

 Research Questions

·        What is the view of Academic radiographers on different facets of their Jobs

·        What is the view of Clinical radiographers on different facets of their Jobs

·        What is the overall satisfaction among clinical and academic radiographers

 Significance of the study    

The study will be useful for the governments, practicing and aspiring radiographers and researchers.

It will be of immense benefit to the government because they will have an insight into the job issues radiographers are facing. This will enable the appropriate government institution to put the right system in place and put all hands on deck.

Both practicing and aspiring radiographers will benefit from this study as they will know the prospect of their career and the needed avenues to make the career better and more enticing to upcoming radiographers.

Researchers will benefit from this as they will have an insight into the findings of the research and build on it for subsequent research.

 Scope of the study

The scope of this study will be limited to 5 hospitals in south eastern part of Nigeria. The study will utilize radiographers from Abia State University Teaching Hospital,

Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and Federal teaching hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi state. The study will be limited to both academic and clinical radiographers in these hospitals.