“Nursing My Own Work Destiny”: A Concept Analysis of Basic Psychological Need Crafting

Abstract

Background: Need crafting is becoming increasingly important in research and nursing practice. Nurses who engage in need crafting may experience optimal mental health because of the optimal satisfaction of basic psychological needs. Purpose: The concept is not well defined in the work context, and this study aimed to clarify and develop it further. Following Walker and Avant’s procedure, we systematically analyzed the concept. We also constructed model, borderline, and contrary cases relevant to the nursing context. Methods: The authors searched Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Scopus—using primary and secondary search terms—and identified English records published from 2010 to 2022. Results: Need crafting is defined as a proactive, self‐directed process in which employees make behavioral or cognitive changes or seek environments that affect their need‐based experiences in the work environment. When crafting, employees would also consider whether an approach (to satisfy the need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness) or avoidance (to avoid frustration with the need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness) is necessary. Need crafting involves intentional thought or action to optimize need‐based experiences in a personalized and unique way. This approach emphasizes a proactive stance toward need fulfillment at work. The concept analysis (CA) also yielded antecedents (at the individual, team/group, leadership, and organizational/contextual levels) and consequences (from affective, behavioral, and cognitive perspectives) of need crafting. Conclusion: This CA has significantly clarified the construct of need crafting within the work context and provided a deeper understanding of its specific application in nursing. By establishing a robust conceptual foundation, this study offers valuable insights for both researchers and practitioners, contributing to a broader work context and, more specifically, to nursing management. These insights have important implications for enhancing nurses’ well‐being and, ultimately, the quality of healthcare delivery.