Assessing the attitudes and perceptions towards nursing profession among nursing students

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Professional Attitudes
• Socioeconomic Factors in Healthcare

Background:

• Nursing education in developing countries like India faces unique challenges.
• Understanding nursing students' attitudes and perceptions is crucial for improving the profession.
• Societal perceptions and personal motivations significantly influence career choices in nursing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the attitudes and perceptions of undergraduate nursing students in India.
• To identify students' desired future practices within the nursing profession.
• To explore factors influencing career choices among nursing students.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted among 129 undergraduate nursing students in Bangalore.
• A modified Beliefs, Attitudes and Perceived Practice questionnaire was utilized.
• Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Main Results:

• A significant portion of students (34.1%) enrolled out of personal interest, while 33.3% cited financial improvement as a motivator.
• Only 3.1% of students emphasized protecting patient rights and dignity as a primary reason for enrollment.
• Nearly half (48.8%) agreed that social prejudice influences career choices, and 53.5% intended to pursue nursing post-graduation.

Conclusions:

• There is an urgent need to educate nursing students on patient rights and dignity.
• Improving the societal image of nurses is essential to attract more students to the profession.
• Universities should implement counseling and introductory courses to foster positive attitudes towards nursing.