In Finland, relatively little research has been conducted on the experiences of nurses regarding work orientation. However, work orientation has an impact on the entire work community. High employee turnover and retirement rates in health care make it all the more important.

The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of nurses regarding the work orientation they had received while working in a southern Finland hospital and a unit of primary health care. The aim of the study was to produce information and knowledge for further assessment and improvement of work orientation.

The research method was qualitative and the data was collected by using voice recorded theme interviews. Ten nurses participated in the study. The data was analyzed by inductive content analysis and resulted in a description of how the nurses experience the received work orientation.

The main result of this study showed that the received work orientation was mainly experienced as inadequate. Work orientation was found lacking in both the planning and implementation phases. In addition to the study results, the participants’ own development proposals are being brought out in this thesis.

The results of this study can be utilized in evaluation and improvement of work orientation. Further ideas for studying include assessing the connection between work orientation and the length of employment, studying how the superiors and immediate superiors experience the work orientation and how the mentors themselves experience the orientation they give.