Abstract
Objective: To identify the primary motivations and influencing factors behind the selection of nursing as a career path.
Methodology: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted using simple random sampling (n=80) among Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students at a private nursing institute in Karachi. Data were collected via a validated self-administered questionnaire and analyzed to identify the hierarchy of motivational factors.
Results: The cohort was predominantly young, with 98.8% of participants aged 17–26 years and a balanced gender distribution. While 73.8% of respondents cited a high degree of personality alignment with the profession and 85% were attracted by the prospective career scope, the most "magnetic" driver was economic pragmatism. An overwhelming 93.8% of participants selected nursing due to guaranteed employment and the ease of entering the workforce immediately following clinical training.
Conclusion: The selection of nursing in Pakistan is governed by a dual-incentive model. While the profession serves as a profound outlet for humanitarian and spiritual values, its primary attraction remains its status as a recession-proof career. The study concludes that "zero unemployment" is the most dominant factor in career recruitment, though it is often harmonized with a genuine desire to serve the community and satisfy religious obligations.