Nursing on the edge: An empirical exploration of gig workers in healthcare and the unseen impacts on the nursing profession

Abstract

This research investigates the motivations driving healthcare workers to choose gig work, focusing on job satisfaction, work-life balance, financial considerations, and professional development. Utilizing a structured questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale, data were collected from 384 participants in private nursing institutions across Lucknow, Varanasi, and Kanpur. The study reveals intricate relationships among these factors and their collective influence on healthcare workers’ decisions to engage in the gig economy. The diverse demographic profile underscores the broad representation of healthcare workers in gig roles, emphasizing the need for tailored engagement strategies. Positive correlations between job satisfaction, work-life balance, financial considerations, professional development, and motivations highlight the importance of addressing these aspects to promote gig work among healthcare professionals. Regression analysis establishes the significant impact of factors such as experience, city, gender, age, and job-related factors such as work life balance, satisfaction, financial consideration and professional development and motivations for choosing gig work. These findings provide valuable insights for healthcare organizations and policymakers seeking to understand and support the gig workforce effectively. This research contributes to the existing literature on gig work in healthcare by unravelling the complex interplay of factors influencing healthcare workers’ decisions