Different perspectives on the craftibility of the nursing job in Dutch hospitals; a qualitative study

Background Job crafting involves modifying one's role to increase meaning, job satisfaction, and well-being. In nursing, key challenges include workforce issues, particularly retention and sustainability. This study explores the perspectives of different types of nurses on the ability to craft their current job. Aim To explore the perceptions of nurses, nursing assistants, nurse practitioners, and team leaders in Dutch hospitals regarding the opportunities and challenges of job crafting and what is needed in the (near) future. Method An explorative qualitative study across five hospitals and one medical service center in the Netherlands, using focus groups. Inductive thematic analysis was applied to explore various perspectives. Results Thirteen focus groups with 73 healthcare professionals revealed four main themes: (1) (No) desire for job crafting, (2) Team capacity for job crafting, (3) Balancing between being ambitious and setting the bar too high, and (4) The importance of job crafting. Nurses have various perspectives on job crafting. In general, nursing assistants and vocational-educated nurses are satisfied with their current tasks. Bachelor-educated nurses and nurse practitioners are more eager to craft their jobs, but struggle with how to implement new roles effectively in practice. Conclusion The need to craft the job differs between nurses, and various challenges in its application are present. Recognizing these challenges, removing key barriers and facilitating enough time, resources, and support are essential for team leaders to encourage job crafting among nurses. Creating a (team) culture that supports job crafting can enhance job satisfaction, professional growth, and nurse retention. Trial registration: In UMC Utrecht, an independent quality check has been carried out to ensure compliance with legislation and regulations (UMC Utrecht: 21–051/C).