The article “choice and perception of the nursing profession from the perspective of Polish nursing students: a focus group study” seeks to examine the perception of Polish students on the nursing profession and the reasons they chose to study the course (Marcinowicz, Owlasiuk, Slusarska, Zarzycka & Pawlikowska, 2016). The primary determinant of the decision to choose a nursing profession regards practical aspects. For instance, according to the article, most students chose the nursing course because it offers an opportunity for employment. Nursing students have the desire to work abroad because they think that other countries perceive nursing as a good job. Therefore, they will earn respect and paid well. Another reason is that nursing profession has low admission requirements compare to medical studies (Marcinowicz, Owlasiuk, Slusarska, Zarzycka & Pawlikowska, 2016). Others chose the course because they have the desire to help individuals who are unable to help themselves. Conversely, some students chose the profession by accident, and they feel ashamed for studying it since the profession is undervalued.

Through personal experience, the nursing students gave their perception of the job and reasons for low prestige. A study among medical students indicated that they do not perceive nursing profession in terms of the development of independence rather they relate it to the therapeutic process (Marcinowicz, Owlasiuk, Slusarska, Zarzycka & Pawlikowska, 2016). Some individuals perceive a nurse as a friendly, courteous and a person with professional reliability. The nursing profession experiences shortage of support staff thus increasing nurse-patient ratios (Marcinowicz, Owlasiuk, Slusarska, Zarzycka & Pawlikowska, 2016). When nurse students experience such, they get demotivated and perceive nursing as a hard task. Nursing profession lacks respect due to low pay, poor mutual relationships between nurses and physicians inability to understand roles of nurses. The recent improvement of how individuals perceive nurse is related to the development in the qualification level of nurses (Marcinowicz, Owlasiuk, Slusarska, Zarzycka & Pawlikowska, 2016). Although nurses are aware of the negative image of the occupation, they believe that they can improve the image and attract more students.

Reference

Marcinowicz, L., Owlasiuk, A., Slusarska, B., Zarzycka, D., & Pawlikowska, T. (2016). Choice and perception of the nursing profession from the perspective of Polish nursing students: a focus group study. BMC Medical Education, 16(1), 243. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-016-0765-3

 
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