Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- Marjan Mardani-Hamooleh 1
- Tahereh Najafi Ghezeljeh 2
- Naima Seyedfatemi 3
- Sahar Keyvanloo 1
- Marjan Fooladi 4
1 Iran University of Medical Sciences
2 Iran university of medical sciences
3 Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran
4 Florida State University
Abstract
Introduction: Understanding the perception of high school students, before entering the field of nursing, can be a basis for future planning in this regard. This study aims to explain the perception of these students regarding nursing as a career choice in the future in Iran.
Methods: This is a qualitative content analysis study. The study setting consisted of four public high schools in Tehran, Iran. Participants included 28 students. They were recruited by purposive sampling and were administered semi-structured, face-to-face interviews in 2019. The duration of interviews ranged from 30 to 45 minutes. The Elo and Kyngäs technique was used to analyze the data. The interviews were transcribed. Initially, semantic resemblances and differences were reviewed and subcategories were defined. After repeated review, the related subcategories were placed in one category.
Results: Analysis of data showed that students' perception of nursing as a future career could be classified in three categories and seven subcategories. The category “positive view of nursing profession” included two subcategories: “interest in the profession” and “being a supporter”. The category “barrier to choose the nursing as a future career” consisted of three subcategories: “the lack of professional independence”, “poor economic support”, and “negative evaluation of nursing”. Also, the category “culture-based issues” included two subcategories: “stigmatized public image” and “gender-dependent profession”.
Conclusion: Our results showed that there are some positive and negative views of high school students towards nursing and the influence of cultural issues on nursing profession. Studying nursing by those who are interested in nursing will lead to the training of professionals who provide optimal nursing care for patients.
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