Self-esteem in nurse anesthesia students: a national investigation

The purpose of the study was to determine the self-esteem (SE) profile of nurse anesthesia students and identify education or biographic variables that influenced positive self-esteem. It was the assumption of the investigators that these variables, once described, could be used in curriculum planning and development to facilitate positive learning outcomes. A sample of 96 nurse anesthesia students, selected by random stratification, provided data by means of the Tennessee Self-concept Scale (TSCS) and an investigator-devised questionnaire. Correlation coefficients and analysis of variance were run on score subscales of the TSCS grouped according to nine education and biographic variables. Sample TSCS profiles were found comparable to control groups. Students reporting high grade point averages (GPAs) and married students demonstrated higher SE profiles than other groups. Gender, degree of physician mentorship, time in training, degree levels of generic nursing or anesthesia education, years of critical care experience, or anesthesia program base did not significantly influence SE measures.