Perception of nursing profession – focus group interview among applicants to nursing education

Abstract

Aims and objectives To explore nursing applicants’ perceptions of the nursing profession and to identify the factors influencing their perceptions. Background Perceptions guide the career choice in nursing and the retainment in the profession. Perceptions of nursing profession are said to be outdated and unrealistic among public. Therefore, more information is needed about the perceptions of nursing applicants. Design Exploratory qualitative design using focus group interviews. Methods Three focus group interviews (n = 18) were conducted among applicants to undergraduate Bachelor of Science (BSc) nursing programmes. The focus group interviews were recorded transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis. In this study, the ethical principles set by Finnish law and the National Advisory Board on Research Ethics were followed. Findings Applicants perceived nursing through characteristics of a nurse, content of nursing work, nature of nursing work and career possibilities in nursing. According to applicants, nursing requires suitable attitude and character with knowledge, theoretical competence and good general education. Nurses were seen to work in multi‐professional teams and tasks of a nurse were described through caring role of a nurse. The decision‐making in nursing was regarded limited. Nursing was considered as secure job with versatile career options although the career options or the further educational possibilities were not fully recognised among applicants. Personal factors, family and friends, media and career counselling at school influenced applicants’ perceptions. Conclusions Applicants’ perceptions of the nursing profession are one‐sided and partly unrealistic. Future research should concentrate on planning interventions aiming to change the public image of the nursing profession.

Knowledge, attitude and intentions towards nursing profession among Chinese high school graduates in central China

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The influence of mobile phone addiction and work procrastination on burnout among newly graduated Chinese nurses

“…Newly graduated nurses play an important role in delivering high‐quality patient care. Compared with the general population, facing the complicated and fast‐paced clinical environment means that newly graduated nurses must accurately identify urgent nursing tasks, which requires rapid decision‐making 49 . Even so, the prevalence of work procrastination among newly graduated nurses is concerning.…”

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“…The genre remains popular in many parts of the world both in terms of global distribution and local production of shows (see for example, Bull, 2016;Gao, 2016;Riahi et al, 2020). Medical television drama is popular viewing among medical and nursing students (Glerean et al, 2019;Czarny et al, 2008). Medical television has been credited with encouraging applications to nursing education (Weaver et al, 2013) although it has also been mooted that unrealistic expectations of healthcare professions -whether derived from media, career counselling or friends and family -could contribute to attrition rates (Glerean et al, 2019).…”

“…Medical television drama is popular viewing among medical and nursing students (Glerean et al, 2019;Czarny et al, 2008). Medical television has been credited with encouraging applications to nursing education (Weaver et al, 2013) although it has also been mooted that unrealistic expectations of healthcare professions -whether derived from media, career counselling or friends and family -could contribute to attrition rates (Glerean et al, 2019). Television may also influence students' choice of specialism.…”