Non‐English speaking background high school students’ attitudes towards the nursing profession

Abstract

Australia is a multicultural nation with its population coming from over 120 different cultural backgrounds. With the arrival of new immigrants from Southeast Asia, China, Korea and Lebanon over the last 20 years, issues such as the recruitment of bilingual and cross-cultural knowledgeable nurses have become a high priority within the health care system. However, recruiting these skilled professionals has been difficult. This study aimed to examine (1) non-English speaking background (NESB) high school students' career preferences in relation to nursing; and (2) whether nursing is perceived differently by the Korean, Lebanese, Vietnamese and mainland Chinese high school students. A convenience sample of 162 NESB high school students with parents from Korea, Lebanon, Vietnam and China was recruited from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Data were collected by a questionnaire to measure students' knowledge about, attitudes towards and intention to study nursing and their demographic details. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe students' demographic background, their career preference and to compare knowledge, attitudes and intention scales among the NESB groups. Results indicated that less than 10% of students included nursing among their preferred career options. Korean students scored lower than the other NESB groups on attitude and intention towards nursing. The findings provide clues as to how nursing can be better promoted to NESB school leavers. Limitations of the study were discussed and recommendations were suggested for future research.

Impact of the perceived public image of nursing on nurses’ work behaviour

“…1999), but also for the public and for organizational structures. Studies show that the public views caring as the primary and highly regarded role of nursing (Rossiter et al. 1998, Hemsley‐Brown & Foskett 1999, Tang et al.…”

“…The public has a stereotypical view of nursing, in which nurses may be regarded as less intelligent than doctors, dependent on doctors, powerless and underpaid (Reiskin & Haussler 1994, Tomey et al. 1996, Rossiter et al. 1998, Hemsley‐Brown & Foskett 1999, Tang et al.…”

Factors influencing Chinese undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of the nursing profession

“…Nurses' work has been considered as dependent on doctors, less intelligent than doctors, powerless and underpaid (HemsleyBrown & Foskett 1999;Rossiter et al 1998). This was especially true in China because of the influence of traditional thinking.…”

The Nursing Shortage: Can We Look to Teachers as a Source of Support?

“…The establishment of programs to encourage children to consider nursing as a career has been identified as an important activity to help prevent an even more serious future nursing workforce shortage (Alexander & Fraser, 2001; Blasdell & Hudgins‐Brewer, 1999; Hodgman, 1999; Leonard & Iannone, 2000; Mignor, Cadenhead, & McKee, 2002; Pellman & Meyer, 2000; Reiskin & Haussler, 1994; Rossiter, Bidewell, & Chan, 1998; Tomey, Schwier, Marticke, & May, 1996). Although nursing shortages have occurred previously, the current nursing shortage is different because of the attrition of nurses from the practice setting due to increased retirements; the unpredictability of continued, full‐time employment even during a time of a nurse workforce shortage; the increased number of emerging roles; and the demand for nurses to fill these and existing roles.…”