Professional expectations and activities of nurses in Israel

A total of 159 nurses participating in study days throughout Israel responded to a questionnaire on professional expectations and activities. Their age ranged from 26 to 73; 66% received their basic nursing education in diploma schools for registered nurses, but 36.5% had completed or were studying towards a post-basic baccalaureate degree in nursing and 23.2% were studying towards or had completed a master's degree. The highest percentage of respondents--92% expected to be involved much and very much in clinical decision-making. The professional activity most nurses were involved in (86.8%) was 'professional reading'. Multiple stepwise regression showed that continuing education explained 25.9% of the variance of professional activities. No satisfactory explained variance was achieved on professional expectations. In this convenience sample the percentage of academic nurses was higher than in the working force in Israel.