Predicting factors of positive orientation and attitudes towards nursing: A quantitative cross-sectional study

Yvonne Ten Hoeve; Stynke Castelein; Wiebren Jansen; Gerard Jansen; Petrie Roodbol

doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2016.02.019

Predicting factors of positive orientation and attitudes towards nursing: A quantitative cross-sectional study

Nurse Educ Today. 2016 May:40:111-7. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2016.02.019. Epub 2016 Mar 2.

Authors

Yvonne Ten Hoeve¹, Stynke Castelein², Wiebren Jansen³, Gerard Jansen⁴, Petrie Roodbol⁵

Affiliations

¹ UMCG School of Nursing and Health, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: y.ten.hoeve@umcg.nl.
² Lentis Research, Lentis Psychiatric Institute, P.O. Box 86, 9700 AB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: s.castelein@lentis.nl.
³ Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: w.s.jansen@uu.nl.
⁴ Hanze University of Applied Sciences, School of Nursing, Master of Advanced Nursing Practice, Eyssoniusplein 18, 9714 CE Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: gr.j.jansen@pl.hanze.nl.
⁵ UMCG School of Nursing and Health, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: p.f.roodbol@umcg.nl.

PMID: 27125159
DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2016.02.019

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have identified various reasons for students to choose a career in nursing. Students at the start of their programme hold a great variety of images and perceptions of nursing which can affect their orientation and attitudes towards their future profession.

Objectives: This paper aims to examine nursing students' orientation and attitudes towards nursing at the beginning of their educational programme, and to explore predictors of positive orientation and attitudes.

Design: The study used a quantitative cross-sectional design.

Settings: A survey was conducted among first-year nursing students at four nursing universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands.

Participants: Questionnaires were administered to all students enrolled in a bachelor of nursing programme (n=1414) at these universities.

Methods: Respondents completed a survey consisting of: 1) Nursing Orientation Tool, 2) Nursing Attitude Questionnaire, and 3) demographic data such as gender, living status, nursing experience, preliminary training, first-choice programme, and career choice. Kruskal Wallis tests, with post hoc Mann Whitney U tests, were used to compare group scores. Multiple regression was performed to investigate predictors of positive orientation and attitudes towards nursing.

Results: Students in this study sample (n=1244) strongly agreed with statements related to caring, nursing expertise, professional nursing knowledge and the application of this knowledge. Predictors of positive orientation and attitudes towards nursing include having nursing/caring experience, indicating nursing as the first choice for study, preliminary vocational training, and a desire to make a career in nursing.

Conclusions: Data from this survey suggest a link between personal and environmental characteristics and motivations to select nursing as a career. Understanding which factors predict positive orientation and attitudes towards nursing could offer educators a tool in the recruitment and selection assessment of new students.

Keywords: Attitude; Nursing students; Orientation; Recruitment; Survey.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Attitude of Health Personnel*
Career Choice*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Empathy*
Female
Humans
Male
Motivation*
Netherlands
Students, Nursing / psychology*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult