Looking to the future: nursing as a career goal

Career paths selected by completing nursing students are of significant interest to educators and professional agencies. This paper presents part of a larger study which investigated students' influences and motivations for selecting nursing as a career path. The aim of this study was to identify career goals of completing nursing students, what factors influence these goals, preferred areas in which to work and if aged care is considered a career option. The study employed a cross sectional approach utilizing Ford's (1986) taxonomy of human goals as a theoretical framework. A questionnaire was administered to 25 students in the final semester of their nursing degree. Preliminary findings showed goals for future practice were limited to midwifery and paediatrics whilst elder care was not perceived as a viable career option. Negative images of nurses continue to prevail and implications for nursing are considered. Despite the small sample, the study provides evidence that to provide suitable care for all members of the community it is essential that all career options within the profession are positively promoted.     

Socio-cultural perspectives on the image of nursing: the Hong Kong dimension

Using structured interviews a study was undertaken with 19 high school students in Hong Kong to elicit their perceptions of nursing as a profession. The study also sought to gauge the extent of the students' intentions on pursuing a career in nursing. Responses were content analysed to determine the extent of knowledge and understanding held, intentions on choosing nursing as a career and their reasons. Findings suggest the image of nursing to be poor and that nursing as a career is far from desirable amongst the teenagers of Hong Kong. The reasons appear to be related to the notion of monetary rewards and status within the Hong Kong community. There is also a lack of knowledge as to what nurses do. The implications of such findings include the lost potential for recruitment of candidates of high calibre with a lot to offer the profession and their society. It suggests the need for the profession to find ways of publicizing and marketing the positive aspects with elements of realism which the general population in that part of the world could relate to more readily.     

Absorption of nursing students: new immigrants in the general academic nursing programme in Israel

Two years after upgrading its nursing programme to university level, Israel experienced a massive wave of immigration from the former Soviet Union. Previous studies have shown that Russian immigrants in general, and in nursing in particular, have several unique characteristics that need to be taken into consideration in planning curricula and absorption programmes. The aim of the present work was to update these data, focusing on the reasons new immigrants choose nursing as a career, their image of the profession and their satisfaction with it. The study population consisted of 302 students attending five major academic schools of nursing in Israel. Students were divided into two groups: new immigrants (less than 4 years in Israel) and long-time Israelis (more than 4 years in Israel). All completed a 30-item questionnaire of proven validity and reliability. Findings were analysed by length of time in Israel and year of study. Using a series of statistical tests, we found that compared with the long-time Israelis, the new immigrants came from a higher socio-economic/professional stratum (in their mother country), had a less ‘technical’ perception of nursing, and were attracted to the profession primarily for extrinsic reasons (‘close to medicine’, economics). Both groups showed highest satisfaction in the clinical domain; however, the difference was significant only in the long-time Israeli group, even though the new immigrants had rated this domain highest in importance. The new immigrants showed least satisfaction in the academic domain. These results could be explained by several factors: the financial and housing problems that accompany immigration; the higher proportion of married students in the new immigrant group; and especially language difficulties, which are multiplied in Israel, where mastery in both Hebrew and English is necessary. Of particular interest was the fact that many of the immigrant students had already begun or completed medical school in their old country but were forced to compromise their dreams on immigration. This affected both their image of nursing and their reasons for choosing it as a career. We believe these findings will help nurse educators identify areas in which they can help ease the absorption process for maximal benefit to both the students and the profession.     

Kuwaiti high school students' perceptions of nursing as a profession: implications for nursing education and practice

The shortage of nurses in Kuwait is attributed to low production of indigenous nurses, resignation and emigration of foreign nurses, and expansion of health care facilities. This study explored Kuwaiti high school students' perceptions of nursing as a profession, their sources of information about nursing, and factors that affected their choice of nursing as a future career. Questionnaires from 289 students attending seven all-female high schools in Kuwait were analyzed. The results revealed that all of the participants were knowledgeable about the functional aspects of the nursing profession, and 35% of them received this information through contact with nurses during hospital visits. However, only 19% indicated they might consider nursing as a future career. The implications of the study for nursing education and practice, and strategies to attract and retain indigenous high school graduates into nursing programs in Kuwait are discussed.     

Promoting the nursing profession: the perceptions of non-English-speaking background high school students in Sydney, Australia

By using an ethnographic approach, this paper explores the perceptions of nursing among the non-English-speaking background high school students in Sydney, and describes how the nursing profession could be promoted to them. A volunteer sample of four groups of high school students with parents from Lebanon, Vietnam, Korea and mainland China were recruited. In-depth focus group interviews were conducted. Through constant comparison of categories, 10 concepts emerged from the three major themes to describe the students' career preferences and their influencing factors; their image of nursing and their suggestions on how nursing could be promoted to them. These findings highlighted the significance of social, cultural and political factors that influenced the students' perceptions of nursing and their career choice. Implications and suggestions for marketing and recruitment strategies are discussed.     

A career in nursing sciences?]

A research study was conducted in a francophone high school in Northern Ontario to examine students' perceptions of nursing and the influence of these perceptions on nursing as a career choice. All students in grades 11, 12 and 13 were invited to participate. Fifty-eight percent (n = 268) completed the questionnaire. Results showed that 37 percent of the respondents considered pursuing a career in the health sciences. Only 14% percent were interested in nursing. Respondents' comments suggest that the nurse is viewed favorably but the profession is perceived as a career that does not involve pleasant tasks, good working conditions or opportunities for professional advancement. Reasons advocated for choosing nursing were altruistic rather than career-oriented. Students saw nursing practice as occurring mainly in a hospital setting. Half of the respondents who had chosen nursing as a career opted to enroll in a university program and the other half chose a college program. Results suggest that nursing continues to face an image problem regarding its role in the health care system. In these times of job losses and budget cuts, the profession still needs to attract young recruits. This is the challenge we have to face.     

Urban high school students' perceptions of nursing as a career choice.

One hundred and fourteen high school students (n = 114) completed the Attitudes, Values, and Beliefs Questionnaire. A two-sided Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test revealed that students perceived an ideal career as having more power, more positive evaluation, and less activity than a career in nursing would. The areas of greatest perceived disparity and those that showed nursing less favorably were making decisions for one's self, always having a job, working in a safe place, making a lot of money, and earning appreciation and respect. Areas in which nursing appeared more favorable were working with one's hands and being very busy. Caring for others and working hard were valued equally for both careers. Students' perceptions of nursing may have been based on misinformation, on a lack of awareness about the options available within the profession, or based simply on a higher regard for a different career. Future endeavors to recruit these students into nursing must include exposure to the multiple opportunities that await them as experienced by contemporary nursing professionals.     

Perceptions of Israeli student nurses regarding clinical specialties and factors that influence these perceptions

AIM: This paper reports a study to determine the perceptions of baccalaureate nursing students towards clinical specialties and what factors influenced these perceptions. BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that nursing students enter their professional education with preconceived perceptions about the different clinical specialties in nursing. Some investigators have found that factors such as clinical experience influence these perceptions, but others have not. Cultural and social influences, especially among non-western cultures, have rarely been investigated. METHODS: Israeli baccalaureate nursing students were surveyed in their first, third and fourth years of study during the years 1998-2004. They were asked to rank their preferences for clinical areas related to social need, social prestige, level of interest in the clinical area, job choice and what factors influenced their decisions related to job choice. Mean ranks and associations between class and calendar year cohorts were calculated. RESULTS: Critical care was consistently ranked as the highest preference in all perception checklists, followed by emergency, maternity and paediatric nursing. Psychiatric, community and gerontological nursing were consistently found at the bottom of the list. High levels of association were found among students from different class cohorts and calendar years. Life experiences were ranked as the factor that most influenced career choice. CONCLUSION: Nursing students in Israel tend to perceive clinical areas in ways similar to other students around the world. These perceptions are strongly influenced by personal experiences and other personal contacts, most often not nursing instructors. Major changes in the local society seem for the most part to have little impact on these perceptions. Therefore there is a need for international nurse educators and recruiters to develop new, creative strategies to encourage nursing students to pursue careers in areas presently considered less popular.     

Nursing students' perceptions of their first mental health placement.

The way in which the theory and practice of mental health nursing is presented to students is of particular importance, especially at a time when recruitment into the profession is falling. This study sought to examine how nursing students experience their first mental health placement. A pre-/post-test design was used with a standardized instrument (Attitude Towards Psychiatry questionnaire) to assess the influence of their mental health placements on nursing students' attitudes towards mental health nurses, mental health nursing practice and education and theoretical aspects of mental health nursing. Results suggest that the placements were effective in improving students' regard in each of these areas. Though no generalizable conclusions can be inferred from this study some interesting insights are provided by nursing students into their perceptions of current mental health nursing practice.     

What do high school guidance counselors really think of nursing?

With the increasing nursing shortage, it is imperative that nursing programs attract and retain students who will be successful in becoming competent, caring practitioners. High school guidance counselors can influence the career choices of students. To do so, these professionals must have an accurate understanding of the attributes that will facilitate a career in nursing, as well as the changing roles of nurses. This study determined the current perceptions of high school guidance counselors regarding nursing. Overall, guidance counselors had realistic perceptions of nursing and identified personal and cognitive attributes of students that would promote success in nursing. However, nurses involved in the recruitment of students need to ensure that guidance counselors have more accurate perceptions of the changing role of nurses, opportunities for practice outside hospital settings, and the importance of problem-solving abilities and leadership skills for nurses.     

Retention of nursing students with English as a second language

The purposes of this study were to: (a) determine nursing students' perceptions of the learning activities which contribute the most to their knowledge and skills; (b) determine students' perceptions of their learning difficulties; (c) compare the perception of English as a second language (ESL) and non-ESL students; (d) determine nursing faculty perceptions of ESL students' learning difficulties; (e) compare the perception of ESL students and faculty; and (f) indentify needs for educational and/or supportive programmes for faculty and students. Differences in perceptions of faculty and students regarding areas of difficulty and studetnts' needs may influence the services provided to students and therefore contribute to their lack of success and attrition.
A questionnaire was given to students in the first and second years of the University of British Columbia (UBC)/Vancouver Hospital (VH) Nursing Programme to collect data regarding their high school and post-secondary education, date of arrival in Canada, first language, and their perceptions of helpfulness and difficulty of learning activities. A similar questionnaire was given to faculty members working with these students to collect data about their perceptions of areas of difficulty and activities that contribute the most to the learning of ESL students. Data analysis consisted of t -test for statistical comparison of the responses of ESL and non-ESL students, and ESL students and faculty. The results indicated statistically significant differences between the perceptions of faculty and ESL students, particularly in the areas of difficulty. The need for educational programmes for both faculty and students was identified.     

High school students' perceptions of nursing as a career: a pilot study

A pilot survey of 300 high school junior students was implemented to elicit their perceptions of nursing and to explore the relationship between the experience of having a nursing role model and the decision to consider nursing as a career. The results indicated that the majority of students in the sample were aware of the caring and helping aspects of nursing, but there seemed to be a lack of knowledge about expanded roles and opportunities for advancement. High school students had significantly different mean opinion scores according to their sex (F = 17.03, p less than 0001) and the decision to consider nursing as a career (F = 10.00, p less than 002). There appeared to be a significant relationship between the experience of having a nurse role model and consideration of nursing as a career option (chi 2 = 8.23, p less than .0041). These findings have important implications for recruitment of young people into the nursing profession.     

A multidiscipline exploration of college students’ perceptions of academic dishonesty: Are nursing students different from other college students?

As a result of the proliferation of technology, academic dishonesty in colleges and universities is on the rise and is a global issue. The problem of cheating behaviors in students is so pervasive that it is almost commonplace. Most students do not see their cheating actions as out of the ordinary or morally wrong. The process of neutralization is a major concern when students incorporate cheating into “normal” student culture.In a Gallup poll conducted in 2006, nursing was perceived to be the most honest of 23 professions and the one with highest ethical standards (Saad, L., 2006. Nursing tops the list of most honest and ethical professions. The Gallup Poll. www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=25888&pg=1 (retrieved 30.07.08.)). With such a high ethical expectation of the profession, one would assume that academic dishonesty would be nonexistent in nursing programs. Yet it has been documented that nursing students engage in academically dishonest behaviors that they do not perceive as such.Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and attitudes of academic dishonesty in undergraduate students and to determine whether undergraduate nursing students’ perceptions of academic dishonesty were different from undergraduate students majoring in other disciplines. Results of the study revealed clear differences in student perceptions of academic dishonesty by disciplines they were majoring in. Students majoring in nursing most frequently recognized academic dishonest behaviors compared to the other students sampled in this study.     

Predicting factors of positive orientation and attitudes towards nursing: A quantitative cross-sectional study

BackgroundPrevious studies have identified various reasons for students to choose a career in nursing. Students at the start of their programme hold a great variety of images and perceptions of nursing which can affect their orientation and attitudes towards their future profession.ObjectivesThis paper aims to examine nursing students' orientation and attitudes towards nursing at the beginning of their educational programme, and to explore predictors of positive orientation and attitudes.DesignThe study used a quantitative cross-sectional design.SettingsA survey was conducted among first-year nursing students at four nursing universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands.ParticipantsQuestionnaires were administered to all students enrolled in a bachelor of nursing programme (n = 1414) at these universities.MethodsRespondents completed a survey consisting of: 1) Nursing Orientation Tool, 2) Nursing Attitude Questionnaire, and 3) demographic data such as gender, living status, nursing experience, preliminary training, first-choice programme, and career choice. Kruskal Wallis tests, with post hoc Mann Whitney U tests, were used to compare group scores. Multiple regression was performed to investigate predictors of positive orientation and attitudes towards nursing.ResultsStudents in this study sample (n = 1244) strongly agreed with statements related to caring, nursing expertise, professional nursing knowledge and the application of this knowledge. Predictors of positive orientation and attitudes towards nursing include having nursing/caring experience, indicating nursing as the first choice for study, preliminary vocational training, and a desire to make a career in nursing.ConclusionsData from this survey suggest a link between personal and environmental characteristics and motivations to select nursing as a career. Understanding which factors predict positive orientation and attitudes towards nursing could offer educators a tool in the recruitment and selection assessment of new students.     

High school students' perceptions of nursing as a career choice

Declining enrollments in nursing programs, coupled with the current shortage of practicing registered nurses, prompted this investigation of 306 high school students' beliefs about nurses and nursing. The study also identifies potential numbers of future nursing students from high school populations and their primary source of information about nursing. Using an investigator questionnaire, subjects responded to statements about educational requirements for registered nurses along with their working conditions, earning power, and social status. Findings reveal a projected continuing shortage of nurses based on the very small percentage of subjects even considering nursing as a career. Additional findings show that whereas some perceptions about nursing seem congruent with those of nurses themselves, other beliefs held by high school students are not consistent with the realities of professional nursing today. Results of this study can be used by nurse recruiters to correct misconceptions about nursing and to help high school students perceive the profession in a more positive way. Expanding the informational sources about nursing can facilitate the recruitment process.     

Clinical placements and nursing students' career planning: A qualitative exploration

McKenna L, McCall L, Wray N. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2010; 16 : 176–182
Clinical placements and nursing students' career planning: A qualitative exploration Many nursing students enter undergraduate programmes with preconceived ideas about their future nursing careers, and intend to practice in particular areas such as midwifery or paediatrics. Through clinical placements, students are exposed to different clinical areas and professional socialization is facilitated. However, little is known about the influence of clinical placements on students' career intentions. This paper reports nursing findings drawn from a large qualitative study conducted in Victoria, Australia that sought to explore the influence of health professional students' clinical placements on their future career intentions. Participants were invited to be involved in either face‐to‐face or focus group interviews depending upon their own preference. Thematic data analysis revealed three main themes: ‘re‐affirming career choice’, ‘working in a particular area’ and ‘work location’. Findings from the study add to our understanding of factors influencing nursing students' planning for their future careers including the impact of clinical placements.     

The perceptions of high school careers advisers regarding nursing: an Australian study

Effective promotion of nursing as a career to high school students can potentially have a positive impact on the shortage of nurses. This study identified the perceptions of high school careers advisers of the Bachelor of Nursing program as a career choice, their perceptions of the attributes and characteristics necessary for nurses, and their perceptions of nurses' roles and responsibilities. These perceptions have not been previously identified in Australia and may not have been adequately considered in the planning of recruitment and retention strategies for nursing. The study findings suggest that careers advisers recognise the complexity of nursing practice in providing direct patient care and the range of attributes required for the registered nurse who provides this care. Careers advisers recognised that nursing had changed over the past ten years, although few perceived the roles and responsibilities of nurses to extend beyond activities related to patient care. There were few requests for information about nursing as a career from careers advisers and the findings indicates that they do not actively promote nursing as a career. This suggests that despite a range of initiatives to promote registered nursing as a career choice, careers advisers are not influencing significant numbers of school students to consider registered nursing as career.     

College students' image of nursing as a career choice.

This article reports a study of the image of nursing among college students. It has been inferred that the poor image of nursing has a negative impact on recruitment into the profession. A convenience survey of two groups of college students was instituted to determine the image of nursing in relation to an ideal career, and to discover if any factors make the choice of nursing as a career more likely. The responses of 163 nonnursing students were compared to those of 93 nursing students. These findings indicate that the image of nursing as a career choice among nonnursing college students correlated with their ideal career at r = .4072. As expected, nursing students correlated nursing with their ideal career more positively (r = .5941) than the nonnursing students. Implications for nursing and suggestions for further study are included.     

‘Anyone can have a mental illness’: A qualitative inquiry of pre‐registration nursing students’ experiences of traditional mental health clinical placements

Nurses play a crucial role in mental healthcare provision. Like many countries, Australian nursing students are educated in comprehensive pre‐registration programmes which include mental health clinical placements. Placements play a vital role in students’ education, providing the opportunity to engage with consumers and develop mental health nursing knowledge and skills. There is limited knowledge of student perspectives on traditional placements in contemporary recovery‐oriented mental health services. This interpretive qualitative inquiry aimed to explore nursing students’ experience of traditional mental health clinical placement and how it influenced their practice and their understandings of recovery from mental illness. Data were collected from focus groups with n = 31 nursing students in a large metropolitan public mental health service. Thematic analysis resulted in three themes of experience: humanizing people with mental illness; learning about recovery; and shifting perspectives on mental health nursing. Through a positive placement experience where they felt supported and included by staff, students came to see consumers as people rather than diagnoses, developed greater understanding of mental health nursing work and were more likely to consider mental health nursing as a career choice. Peer‐support workers were an important influence on students’ understandings of recovery and have a key role to play in educating students on placement. Students need to be prepared and supported by university and clinical staff to deal with vicarious trauma that may occur on placement. Mental health placements play a crucial role in attracting students into the field, and it is imperative they remain part of comprehensive pre‐registration education.