Abstract
A shortage of nurses' aides at a time of dramatically increasing demand for nursing home care makes it imperative to study the occupational motivations and aspirations of those aides who currently work in long-term care. Motivations for choosing this type of work were found to be related to aides' commitment to continue or leave the job at one year, or to combine part-time work and education. Recommendations are made for improved recruitment and retention of workers in long-term care.