Assessing the Impact of Motivation on the Work Performance of Nurses at the Amasaman Municipal Hospital

Abstract

Motivation is a driver to health worker performance in most Ghanaian hospitals. In view of this, the Ministry of Health has rolled out motivational policies to accentuate work performance of nurses. The focus of this study was to examine the impact of motivation of nurses on work performance at Amasaman Municipal Hospital. This study aimed at identifying the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors of work performance, examine existing policies aimed at improving work performance of nurses and propose various options of motivational policies that could improve the work performance of nurses. A qualitative approach was adopted for the study with purposive sampling for selecting 20 nurses. An in-depth interview guide was used to collect data from nurses at Amasaman Municipal Hospital. Thus, one-on-one interview process was adopted to collect data from nurses. A thematic content analysis approach was adopted to analyze the transcribed data. Key findings from the study revealed that job satisfaction and logistic provision are intrinsic motivation factors; while extrinsic motivation factors that influence work performance are financial reward, accommodation and transportation. Again, the study noted that the welfare policy, accommodation for prescribers and the annual package should be sustained to improve the work performance of nurses at Amasaman Municipal hospital. It further noted that motivational policies such as award schemes and transportation should be introduced to improve the work performance of nurses. Motivation is key to work performance of nurses. Ghana Health Service (GHS) and Ministry of Health (MOH) should adopt motivational policies based on the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for effective work performance of nurses.