The society's view of nursing in Turkey

This study was conducted in order to ensure the educational transformation of a school of health at a state university, within the scope of the Bologna Process. A review of the literature suggests that dependent functions of nursing are studied more often than its independent functions, but independent functions of nursing are not properly understood by society. The population consisted of 458 people in Düzce. They were chosen using a stratified sampling method. The researchers developed a questionnaire form to use as the data collection tool. The data were evaluated by means of descriptive statistics. People living in Düzce region believed that nurses primarily perform care activities, that they act as assistants to doctors. Nurses who perform practical tasks were given positive ratings for their interpersonal communication skills, but the participants also expected nursing school to improve educational structuring to help nursing students acquire communication skills. Nursing education programs must be restructured to improve nursing students' communication skills. It is the first step for structuring education program to know what is nursing image within society. In light of this approach nursing program can be restructured to local tendencies.