Performance of student nurses on the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Nursing Education

Background:

• The Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS) is a psychological assessment tool designed to measure normal personality.
• Understanding the personality traits of nursing students is crucial for predicting professional success and identifying potential challenges within the field.
• Historical shifts in societal expectations and the nursing profession may influence the psychological profiles of students entering the field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the personality needs of female nursing students in a baccalaureate program.
• To compare the personality profiles of these students with established norms for college women and previous nursing student cohorts.
• To identify changes or consistencies in nursing students' needs over time, particularly in relation to broader societal trends.

Main Methods:

• Administered the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS) to 167 female nursing students.
• Compared the obtained EPPS scores with original norms for college women (1959).
• Compared scores with recently published norms for urban college women and historical data from nursing students (1959).

Main Results:

• Nursing students' personality profiles showed some alignment with general college women's trends between 1959 and 1973.
• Despite societal shifts, nursing students consistently exhibited personality needs aligning with traditional professional expectations.
• Specific needs measured by the EPPS indicated a profile that supports roles traditionally associated with nursing.

Conclusions:

• Female nursing students in baccalaureate programs maintain a distinct psychological profile.
• This profile reflects a continued alignment with the perceived requirements and traditional values of the nursing profession.
• The study highlights the enduring influence of professional identity on the personality characteristics of nursing students.