Abstract
Purpose To examine the generational purpose gap in healthcare by identifying the psychological and environmental factors underlying early-career disengagement and late-career reconnection.
Method An integrative literature review was conducted using four academic databases. An artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted thematic synthesis was applied to extract and organize findings within a standardized analytic matrix. To ensure accuracy and rigor, all AI-generated outputs were validated against the original source data.
Results Two primary themes emerged. Early-career healthcare workers commonly experienced disengagement associated with destiny beliefs, while later-career professionals demonstrated renewed purpose and resilience despite ongoing stressors.
Discussion The findings revealed a pronounced generational divide in professional engagement within healthcare. For early-career professionals, disengagement often functioned as a protective response to identity threat and the psychological strain of destiny beliefs, wherein challenges were interpreted as indicators of poor career fit. Late-career professionals, by contrast, navigated systemic constraints by prioritizing job stability while reorienting purpose toward legacy-building, mentorship, and knowledge transmission. Although early-career disengagement poses risks to identity development and workforce retention, later-career reconnection highlights the adaptive potential of purpose realignment across the professional lifespan.
Conclusion The sustainability of the healthcare workforce depends on recognizing shifting purpose orientations across career stages. Integrating structured affirmation for early-career professionals with autonomous leadership for late-career workers may reduce disengagement and enhance retention. Together, these intergenerational strategies offer a framework for fostering a more resilient, cohesive, and purpose-driven healthcare workforce.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.52519/00262
Graduation Date
Summer 8-7-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Radiologic Science
Program
The School of Health Professions
Faculty Advisor
Kevin R. Clark
Committee Member
Jessyca B. Wagner
Director, Graduate Program
William A. Undie
Dean
Kimberly Hoggatt Krumwiede
Recommended Citation
Jeffery, C. R. Disengagement and Reconnection: Investigating the Role of Purpose and Identity Seeking Across Career Stages in Healthcare. [thesis]. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; 2026. https://doi.org/10.52519/00262
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