Navigating Professional Aspirations: The Role of Work–Family Conflict, Job Demand and Control, and Social Support in Shaping Nursing Students’ Career Intentions

Social support emerged as a protective factor, aligning training expectations with clinical experiences and encouraging further nursing qualifications. Work ability promoted endurance in training and reduced career shift. In contrast, exhaustion, work-family conflict, poor health, and negative clinical experiences-including bullying-undermined retention. Nursing education administrators and healthcare managers should prioritize supportive environments, strengthen mentorship and peer support, and implement interventions to reduce stress and improve clinical placements to enhance retention and workforce sustainability.