Choosing nursing as a career: a qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Sociology of Professions

Background:

• Nursing is a socially valued career offering job security and variety.
• The primary motivation for choosing nursing in the 21st century is the desire to care for others.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the reasons why non-mature undergraduate students select nursing.
• To determine the factors influencing this career decision among students.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory-descriptive design with a qualitative approach.
• Data collected via focus group interviews and analyzed using content analysis.
• Participants were undergraduate nursing students in an Irish Higher Education Institute.

Main Results:

• While not always the first career choice, all participants sought a profession centered on caring.
• Personal connections, such as family or friends in nursing, significantly influenced career selection.

Conclusions:

• The core motivation for pursuing nursing is a desire to care, aligning with societal perceptions.
• Influences from existing nursing professionals in social networks play a role in career choice.