PERCEPTION OF NURSING STUDENTS ABOUT NURSING PROFESSION
Keywords:
Nursing, Education, Baccalaureate study, PerceptionsAbstract
Objective: The study aims to describe nursing students’ changing perception of nursing over 4 years of the nursing program.
Methods: A quantitative study with a cross-sectional design was used to assess the nursing students’ perception about nursing profession, with a probability sample of 66 students. Respondents were a random sample of 66 students from four educational cohorts studying baccalaureate nursing program in Jazan University. A questionnaire was administered to assess the demographic information and the perception about nursing profession. The questionnaire was completed by the students voluntarily and anonymously.
Results: In demographic variables, among 66 students, majority 59 (89%) were more than 20 years of age and only 7 (11%) were between the age of 18 and 20 years. Reason for enrollment of nursing (40–60.6%) consider nursing as a trusted profession and 15 (22.7%) enrolled to work as 20 A nurse educators. Regarding their school education, most of the students (54, 81.8%) are from science background, 6 (79.1%) are from mathematics, and the remaining 6 (9.1%) are from other streams. The willingness of the family members’ category resulted that 58 (87.9%) students have a positive reaction and 7 (10.6%) has a negative reaction to student enrolment in nursing. Deciding factor for the job preference of 52 students (78.8%) is the influence of others. 8 (12.1%) were influenced by the classmates and 5 (7.6) were self-motivated. One student is not having specific reasons.
Conclusion: The results indicated that the students had a positive attitude toward nursing at the beginning and also during the study. Many students had an unrealistic perception of nursing; their perception is changed under the influence of educational programs and clinical experience. It is expected that, during their study program, student acquires the necessary competence for independent, safe, and quality nursing care and that they develop a professional identity.
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