NURSING AS A CAREER: First year Students’ perception of and

the reasons for their choice of Nursing as a career.

Bachelor Thesis

Betty Mkala

November 2013

Degree Programme in Nursing

Social Services, Health and Sports

 DESCRIPTION

Author(s) Type of publication Date

Mkala, Betty Bachelor´s Thesis 18112013
Pages Language
52 English
Permission for
web publication
(X)
Title
NURSING AS A CAREER: First Year Students’ Perception Of And The
Reasons For Their Choice Of Nursing As A Career.
Degree Programme
Degree Programme in Nursing
Tutor(s)
Sinivuo, Riikka
Garbrah, William
Assigned by

Abstract
The purpose of this thesis was to provide information for the school
authorities to be able to improve on the nursing degree program. This was
done by finding out the perception of nursing career for the first year
nursing students in the international program in JAMK University of
Applied sciences and getting to know what influenced their choices of the
nursing career. The research was carried out using qualitative research
method where closed and open-ended questions were used in data
collection. A total of 26 answered questionnaires. Questions asked
revealed students’ understanding of the nursing career as that which
involves care, help, professional skills and responsibility, their reasons for
studying nursing were that it provides personal satisfaction, job security
and they possess the needed potentials req uired of the nursing profession,
and the influences for their choice of nursing career that it provides
personal satisfaction, job security and they possess the needed potentials
required of the nursing profession. A follow up study of the same group
of students after a year or so is recommended. To find if their perceptions
changed, if their expectations on their studies and career are met and what
their future expectations are in the career.
Keywords
Nursing career, Perception of nursing career, Nursing students, Attitudes,
Influences, Choices, Nursing history, nursing shortage
Miscellaneous
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Contents

1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................ 3
2 NURSING PROFESSION ................................................................................... 6

2.1 History of Nursing ....................................................................................... 6

2.2 Shortage of Nurses ....................................................................................... 7

2.3 Perception of Nursing ................................................................................ 10

2.4 Reasons for choosing nursing career and factors that influence the
choice of the career. ............................................................................................... 13

2.5 Global view of nursing studies ................................................................. 16

3 PURPOSE, AIMS AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS OF THE STUDY ........ 20

4 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESEARCH .................................................. 21

4.1 Research Methodology .............................................................................. 21

4.2 Setting ........................................................................................................... 22

4.3 Participants and data collection ............................................................... 23

4.4 Data analysis ............................................................................................... 26

5 RESULTS............................................................................................................. 28

5.1 First year student’s Perception of Nursing as a career ......................... 28

5.2 Reasons for choosing the nursing career. ................................................ 31
5.3 Influences of career choice ........................................................................ 33

5.3.1 Reasons for change to nursing career............................................... 33

5.3.2 Influences to choice of nursing career from previous careers. ..... 35
6 DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................... 37

6.1 Credibility, Dependability and Transferability ...................................... 39

6.2 Ethical Considerations ............................................................................... 41

7 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................ 43

8 REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 45

9 Appendices......................................................................................................... 50
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Appendix 1: Interview Questions ....................................................................... 50

Appendix 2: Consent form ................................................................................... 51

Appendix 3: Key words......................................................................................... 52

Table 1: What nursing is all about?...................................................................... 29

Table 2: Reasons for studying nursing ................................................................ 32

Table 3: Reasons for changing to nursing from previous Profession ............. 33

Table 4: Influences of choosing nursing career. ................................................. 35

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1 INTRODUCTION
Nursing is defined as the protection, promotion, and optimization of health

and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through

the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of

individuals, families, communities, and populations (American Nurses

Association, 2012). It is also defined as the use of clinical judgment in the

provision of care to enable people to improve, maintain, or recover health, to

cope with health problems, and to achieve the best possible quality of life,

whatever their disease or disability, until death (Royal College of Nursing

2003, 3).

Nursing is widely regarded as a noble profession in the society because of the

core value it promotes in its practice-which is the care of life. Public opinion

polls identify the nurse as a person who makes the healthcare system work for

them. Therefore, a nurse is an important person and nursing an equally

important career to the health care system. (Booth 2002, 392- 340.)

In this paper we will look at the global view of nursing, nursing education

and the perceptions of nursing career which will help us to relate with the

target group of study. The data will be collected from students having an

international background which means they are able to work anywhere in the

world after their studies.

There is an increasing evidence of imbalance in the global nursing work force

supply and demand. (The International council of nurses 2004; WHO 2006;

Imison et al. 2009.) Worldwide, there also exists a shortag e of nurses when
 4

compared to the required services for them. (Attree, Flinkman, Howley,

Lakanmaa, Lima-Basto & Uhrenfeldt 2011, 787).

In Finland nursing shortage has been a cyclic phenomenon since the 70’s, 80’s

and earlier 90’s. However, the early 90’s witnessed a run of unemployment

due to a drop in demand for nursing so much that young nurses could not get

employment positions. As a result, they had to move to other areas of

profession. This increased shortage in supply of nursing which reached

critical and difficult level when compared to other areas of employment in

Finland as reported by the Finnish ministry of employment and Economy.

(Attree et al. 2011, 787.)

Therefore there is need to increase recruitment of nurses into the healthcare

institutions and also devise ways to retain the nurses. This is a major

challenge in today’s nursing shortage environment as there are many factors

that determine the reasons why a Registered Nurse (RN) would accept a

certain job and whether they will still work in the same institution after the

employment or move to other more gainful areas of employment. (American

Nurses Association, 2013.)

Tackling this global trend has seen several measures employed in different

countries. Most notably in developed countries, the measures are far reaching,

all inclusive and futuristic in execution. In the United States for example, f or

several years, the enrollment of nursing students for bachelor’s degree

programs declined as reported by Association of colleges of nursing.

Strategies were developed to provide a long run solution to the problem.

Some of these strategies are recruiting high school students, committing

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millions of dollars to support the nursing programs and offering scholarships

for students who agree to work in long term facilities. (Nevidjon & Erickson

2006, 464.)

In Finland, the measures taken are quite similar; JAMK University of Applied

sciences increased the intake of students in the past three academic years. In

2011 there was an increase in the annual intake quota for English-taught

degree programmes. The intake quota increased from 190 to 210 places in all

degree programmes, where 10 additional study places were allocated to the

nursing degree programme. (JAMK University of applied sciences, 2011.)

In year 2013 the intake was 30 students in the international nursing

programme and it increased to 40 in year 2014 (JAMK University of applied

sciences 2012 & 2013). JAMK University of Applied Sciences has a provision of

transfer to another degree programme within the same field of study only if

the degree programmes have had the same selection criteria (JAMK

University of Applied Sciences, 2013).

Therefore, it has become expedient to identify what the perceptions of

prospective students are about nursing and what were or are the reasons for

their choice of nursing as a career so that the programme authorities can take

measures to improve on the courses that would guide the students to take the

right path, sustain motivation, arouse more enthusiasm and retain them in

this chosen career.

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2 NURSING PROFESSION

2.1 History of Nursing

The nursing profession has developed throughout history in that earliest

nurses never attended nursing school; they were often nuns and other women

who provided care for the sick, poor, or homeless without family support.

During the middle ages, early hospitals were operated by nurses who were

affiliated with religious organizations. (Nursing school path, 2012.)

The history of professional nursing traditionally began with Florence

Nightingale who was a well-educated daughter of wealthy British parents,

where she defied the social conventions to become a nurse which was not a

respectable career for a well educated and bred lady. She believed that

nursing provided an independent calling which was full on intellectual and

social freedom for women who had less career options at the time. In 18 th and

19th centuries, nursing profession expanded into care of soldiers during

prominent wars including the Crimean war in 1853 where Florence

Nightingale served as a nurse with her trained nurses too who reorganized

the barracks military hospital. (D’Antonio & Buhler-Wilkerson, 2013.)

She later authored a book by the name ‘Notes on nursing’ between 1856 and

1860, which was a guideline for nurses and would go ahead and she open one

of the first nursing schools, The Florence Nightingale School of Nurses In

1860, in London (Nursing school path, 2012).

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At the end of the 19th century, more nurses started working towards

leadership and education policy in nursing schools, therefore recognizing

their roles as more than bedside caregivers. In the 20th century, nursing

continued to evolve to having professional organizations and new programs

designed to specifically address nursing profession challenges. Nursing skills

developed more during this time and nurses gained greater roles with more

critical functions and not being a doctor’s assistant only but expanded into

many specialties. (Op. cit. 2012.)

The increasing emphasis on national and international work in developing

countries and the advocacy of healthy and safe environments has

strengthened the nursing profession. World Health Organisation (WHO)

supports and recognizes nursing as the backbone of most health care systems

around the world. (D’Antonio & Buhler-Wilkerson, 2013.)

2.2 Shortage of Nurses

The multidisciplinary Global Advisory Group of the World Health

Organization has acknowledged the worldwide nursing shortage. The

shortage is due to the fact that fewer people are choosing nursing as a

profession and the current nurses worldwide are aging. (Booth 2002, 392-400.)

The Majority of member countries of the Organization of Economic

Cooperation and Development (OECD), including high income countries,

report nurse shortages (OECD 2009), and the WHO reported in 2006 that

almost all Western- European and Scandinavian countries have a shortage of

nurses which is more likely to increase and persist (Op. cit. p. 787).
 8

Shortage of nurses has reached a crisis point for health services internationally

and this shortage has repercussions for the next generation of nurses which

means there will be workforce shortage and this holds implications for

development of nursing research and continued practice development

(McDermid, Peters, Jackson & Daly 2012).

Due to aging of current nurse faculty and undersupply of well-prepared

nurses there are feelings of uncertainties, anxiety and isolation associated with

the changed responsibilities. (McDermid, et al. 2012.) The shortage is said to

be also due to factors related to wage, work, job satisfaction or dissatisfaction

demographic or workplace factors which determine whether the nurse

switches from healthcare to non-healthcare roles.

(Kankaanranta & Rissanen 2007, 2).

The shortage of nurses doesn’t affect all countries because in some European

countries and some healthcare areas there is no real nurse shortage (Attree et

al. 2011, 787). An example would be of Poland, which has sufficient registered

nurses, though many migrate to earn more money by working in a foreign

country (Pedersen 2008).

In Finland, it has been estimated that a quarter of the Finnish population will

be over 65 years old of age by 2020 which will raise the demand for healthcare

services and advances in medical practice and technology. There will be

changes in the public expectations in health care system which will increase

demand for Registered Nurses. (Kankaanranta et al. 2008, 2.) Many

retirements are expected in the coming years, however, there are fewer
 9

replacements for them. Some reports say that 1 in 5 nurses are expected to

leave the profession within the next 5 years. (Kankaanranta et al. 2008, 2.)

There is urgent need to retain nurses for the profession because of the

shortage and growing intentions to leave the profession. The reasons given by

a cross sectional research done in 10 European countries state some of the

major reasons that would lead to the nurses to leave the profession were,

nurse-physician relationship, leadership, participation in hospital affairs,

female-gender, working fulltime and burnout (Heinen, Achterberg,

Schwendimann, Zander, Matthews, Kózka, Ensio, Sjetne, Casbas, Ball and

Schoonhoven, 2013).

To reverse this trend, all the faculties dealing with healthcare issues should

work together to make sure that the working conditions of nurses are good

and that they can be able to retain them in the profession. As per recruitment,

improving recruitment and retention is related to multiple factors, such as

improving nursing’s image, providing early role models and exposure to

careers in nursing, improving working conditions and wages compared to

alternative careers, professionalism, and better education. (Brewer, Zayas,

Kahn & Sienkiewicz 2006, 56.)

Also, the factors to be considered in recruitment include the faculty’s

reputation, the salary, the union status and the autonomy while the factors

that influence the retention include the ability to be involved in decision

making, practice autonomy, management’s respect for workers, and the work

load and shift arrangements and worked. If the faculty works on these factors,
 10

then the recruitment and retention of staff will help in curbing the problem of

nurse shortage. (American Nursing Association, 2013.)

More or so, it is important to start from the core of the issue which is the

recruitment of students, who would study to be well-equipped and prepared

for the working life and this starts by knowing their perceptions and

expectations in the profession and be able to guide them in the right direction

and therefore being able to retain them too.

2.3 Perception of Nursing

Perception is the way in which something is regarded, understood, or

interpreted (The Oxford dictionary 2013). Therefore nursing as a ‘concept’ is

more than just a definition (Mason-Whitehead et al. 2008). It is part of a

framework of communication, language of a group and this reflects who

nurses are and this definition carries a person’s perception (Safari, Saleh,

Nassar, Amre & Froelicher 2011, 2).

It is important to ascertain how students perceive nursing and the decision to

choose nursing to be their career or any other career is highly influenced by

one’s previous ideas about the career. The society and media play a major role

in influencing the image and ideas the student has of nursing career.

(Mooney, Glacken & O’Brien 2008, 386.)

Studies investigating students’ perception of nursing at the beginning of the

nursing programme showed that the students had idealistic views of the

profession with concepts of caring, compassion and nurturing but after the
 11

exposure to clinical experiences it shifted towards it being more of technical,

documentation and procedural skills (Safadi et al. 2011, 2).

A study done in Rio de Janeiro by Spindola, Seibert, Francisco and Clos (2005),

of 62 high school students indicated that the students associate the nurse

figure to the assisting function and they visualize nurses as an auxiliary of the

physician and that they were not aware of the different categories of the

nursing profession and the education level of the profession. Therefore it is

essential to give information to the youngsters before entering college for

them to know what nursing is all about so that they choose the profession

knowing what it entails therefore reducing the rate of dropouts and therefore

retaining them in the profession.

Vanhanen and Janhonen (2000,1054), say that majority of nursing students

perceive nursing as a career which offers opportunities in caring for people

and the students also emphasized on employment opportunities while it

(nursing) promotes their own personal growth. However, Mendez and Louis

(1991), say that nursing students do not always regards nursing as an ideal

career. Therefore the students choose nursing for other reasons, like

recruitment opportunities.

People are attracted to a profession not because it matches their own values

and those of the profession, but because of other personal, social, economic or

political factors (Vanhannen et al. 2000, 1055). Nursing career is also perceived

as lacking in interest, challenge, creativity, responsibility, varied wages, high

status, comfortable conditions compared to other ideal careers (Ben & Becker

2012).
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Another perception about nursing is that it is regarded as a career more

suitable for females than male and this was found out from a research made in

the University of Ontario Canada (Bartfay, Bartfay , Clow & Wu 2010). The

research was made from female and male nurses and non-nursing university

students. It was found out that it is generally perceived by the society and

stereotypes that male nurses are for example, gay, effeminate, less

compassionate and caring than female nurses and it contributes negatively to

the recruitment and retention of the nursing students in the program and

adds to the shortage of nurses (Op.cit. 2010). Due to the fact that the career

(nursing) has been associated with feminine characteristics, it is frequently

perceived as a woman’s job (Mooney, Glacken & O’Brien 2007, 1845).

In general, nursing is perceived favorably for its ability to provide security of

employment and a steady income (Op. cit. 2007, 1844). As mentioned earlier,

it is perceived as a job that involves caring, nurturing and teaching it also

required compassion, patience and strength (Mooney et. al 2008, 386).

Many males perceive nursing as involving working with complex technology

and therefore consider nursing to offer career potential (Op.cit. 2008, 387).

A charge nurse at Newham community children’s home by the name Andrew

Mcgovern (2006) wrote an article which brought out the perception of the

public on nurses. He said that the public view nurses as people who take care

of the sick and he adds in his own perspective nurses care for people at every

age, from before birth to death. He also says that nursing is not just a career

but it is about making a difference to the patients and their family. As much as

it will never be the most financially rewarding career, nurses remain to be the
 13

most recognizable health service symbol. Hard work, effective communication

skills and being practical and having the ability to work in a team and act as a

leader are some of the characteristics a nurse requires.

A research done of highly academic students in the United Kingdom revealed

a different perception of how some people perceive nursing. These students

wouldn’t consider taking a nursing career because of the perception that

doctors cure patients whilst nurses only care for patients. The students also

believed that nursing shouldn’t be a university programme because they

didn’t believe that nursing required a university education. In short the

students believed that nursing wasn’t for high achievers but for low achievers

and dim students, therefore, this hindered the students from choosing nursing

as their career and therefore chose to undertake other courses which were

believed to be in line with their grades and nursing was viewed as the last

resort career choice. (Neilson & Lauder 2008, 687.)

2.4 Reasons for choosing nursing career and factors that

influence the choice of the career.

The reasons students choose to study nursing are firstly, the education and

career aspirations which include the student’s belief that nursing is their

choice of career and that there is advancement in the nursing career or nursing

education. (Tan-kuick & Ng, 2011.)

The second reason is the personal ability which is the stress management,

motivation, perseverance and self-confidence. Third reason is the socio-

 14

economic status which includes job security, images, stereotypes and

monetary reward and another one is parental and peer encouragement which

includes the parental and peer perceptions and support. (op. cit. p. 2.)

Another reason would be the expectations of employment. This boils down to

job security, knowing that after studying it is easy to acquire a job and that as

a healthcare professional, one cannot go without a job. (Gutierrez , Maranon,

Poch & Prat 2010, 236-42.)

Vanhanen and Janhonen (2000), refer to prior research results by Vanhanen et

al. (1999), where nursing students’ orientation to the profession is defined in

terms of orientation to caring, students’ own experiences and nursing

expertise. These orientations differ with regard to the student’s pre-

educational experiences of nursing and caring, the meaning of nursing as

work to them, and the students’ expectations of nursing education and a

future career in nursing. (Op. cit. p. 1055.)

A study revealed that registered nurses and nursing students chose to study

nursing because of the opportunity for caring and that it was their vocation in

life which were congruent with the character and temperament found in the

participants (Eley D, Eley R, Bertello & Rogers 2012, 1546).

A study done in Ireland came out with findings that some of the students,

who took part in the study, didn’t have nursing as their first choice career.

Some preferred careers in alternative healthcare professions like occupational

therapy, medicine or physiotherapy, some were interested in teaching but due

to insufficient grades, they chose nursing, but none of them regretted the

choice of nursing career. (Mooney et al. 2008, 389.)

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A study done by Raines (2010) brings out the fact that there are individuals

who hold a baccalaureate degree in another field and they desire to change

careers and more specifically to nursing and the factors that attracted these

individuals to nursing were three. These factors were to bring something in

nursing, to seek work which is satisfying and to get the missing piece.

One of the many factors that influence people’s choices in life is having a

career which is good and stable. A study done in Hongkong School, indicated

that the students decision to choose or not choose nursing was significantly

influenced by factors like Gender, biology subject pursued, previous academic

achievement and mother’s occupation and the students’ perception. The

parents, the school teachers, friends, past experiences with career activities

and working in hospital were some of the influences that made the students

have the intent to study nursing. (Law & Arthur 2003, 23.)

In addition, personal contact with the healthcare world or with someone in

the healthcare world influences the decision to choose nursing career. If one

experiences a loss of a loved one or near loss of a loved one, this would

influence one in choosing nursing as a career, with the intention of helping the

loved one or others with similar conditions. (Gutierrez , Maranon, Poch, and

Prat. 2010. 236-42.) Knowledge about the career can be the main factor to

influence one’s decision to study nursing and this could come through family

members and exposure to work experience (Mooney et al. 2007, 389).

Research done in Dublin came up with findings that media played a role in

the students’ choice but it didn’t influence them directly in making the choice
 16

but it was acknowledged that the media influences society’s impression of

nursing as a career. Family, friends and society play important roles in

influencing the choice of nursing career and the recruitment of nursing

students into the profession. Friends and society are influential to the

recruitment of nursing students into the nursing profession. (Op. cit. p. 391.)

Gender as mentioned earlier is also a factor which can lead to choice of

nursing career or not. According to the high achieving students, they had a

stereotype image of female nurses being viewed as sexual objects and male

nurses as homosexuals therefore, being a dissuading factor to choosing

nursing career. (Neilson & Lauder 2008, 684.)

The media played a major role in the career choice of students in the United

Kingdom, to the high academic achieving students whose main source

regarding nursing appeared to be through television programmes and were

reliant in the small amount of television programmes for their image of

nursing and nurses (Op. cit. p. 684).

2.5 Global view of nursing studies

Nursing practice encompasses autonomous and collaborative care for

individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in

all settings (The international council of nurses 2010).

Due to safe and standardized nursing care, all countries have set up minimal

qualifications for entry into practice and continuing of nursing education.

European and South American countries enact national systems for licensing

nurses due to the centralized health systems (D’Antonio& Buhler-Wilkerson

 17

2013). To become a nurse, one has to study for it and different countries,

continents have different requirements to becoming a nurse.

In the United States, to practice nursing professionally, one must graduate

from a state-approved school of nursing. A four year university program, a

two-year associate nursing degree program, or a three-year diploma program

and then upon graduation they have to pass the RN licensing examination

which goes by the name National Council Licensure Examination for

Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). (Nursetogether 2012.)

Associate’s degree in Nursing in the United States takes 2-3 years and is

offered at community colleges, or senior colleges and universities. The studies

include course work in general education and nursing and it prepares

graduates for licensure and registered nursing and students are prepared to

practice in structured care settings. The baccalaureate is studied in senior

colleges and universities and the graduates are licensed as registered nurses

and employment in a variety of inpatient setting and ambulatory care settings.

The program lasts for four years and upon completion of a state approved

program, graduates may take the Registered Nurse state licensing

examination. (Gilbert 2013.)

In Africa, the nursing studies are different for different countries. South Africa

is one of the countries in the Africa’s south. The bachelor of Social Science in

Nursing in South Africa takes 4 years with total Credits of 568 and additional

4 credits for students who are not computer literate. This enables a student to

register as a nurse (general, Psychiatric and community health) and midwife

at the south African Nursing council (SANC). (Prof. Zyl 2013, 7.)
 18

Students have to meet specified qualifications to get admitted to the pr ogram.

Students have contact lessons which are compulsory; both practical and

theoretical. Those students who attend fewer than 80% of contact lessons are

not allowed to take part in the examination and are regarded as they have

failed the module and have to retake. (Op. cit. p. 8.)

The students have to have the clinical experience which is compulsory and it

consists of 2 components, and these are the scheduled nursing experiential

learning contact sessions and work-based hours in health services institutions

(Op. cit. p. 9).

The students have to pass in all the modules and if one fails they are assessed

after 6 months. After doing the practices and studying, the students do an

examination, which is the final examination for them to qualify to be nurses. If

the student obtains a combined average mark of 75% in all nursing modules,

70%in any extra modules and is able to complete the degree within the

minimum prescribed period, they are awarded a distinction. (Op. cit. p. 10.)

Students are usually compelled to register with the South African Council as

students in Nursing and after the completion of the degree B.Soc. Sc (Nursing)

they are registered with the South African Nursing Council as professional

nurses (Op. cit. p. 10).

In Europe, studying nursing means one can practice in any of the European

Union member countries, but the only problem is language part because to

work in another European country one has to have a good knowledge of

 19

around ‘A’ level standard (Freeney, 2008). ‘A’ level standard is the later of

two standardized tests in a secondary school subject, used as a qualification

for entrance into a university (The American heritage, 2009).

Nursing studies in Finland are done in the Universities of Applied sciences.

They are taught both in English and Finnish, which means there are two

groups of students, those taught in Finnish and those taught in English.

In JAMK University of Applied Sciences, The degree is of health sciences and

the course takes 3, 5 years which is equivalent to 210 ECTS. In JAMK, studies

are based on a personal study plan, which allows a student to choose t heir

own career path. After the graduation, the graduates qualify to work as a

registered nurse and the qualification meets the strict quality requirements set

by the EU in the European Union Legislation.

The nursing programme covers various areas of health example basics of

nursing, nursing in different health-care settings, family and community

nursing among others. There is practical training which is implemented in

several phases of the study period and it carters for a third of the whole

programme. The studies consist of lectures, assignments, group work, exams,

virtual studies, practical training and for the students to graduate they have to

write a bachelor’s thesis on a topic of choice and interest. This is where the

student learns skills, gets knowledge and learns decision-making together

with the teachers, experts and fellow-multi professional students. The studies

are mostly practical oriented, therefore a student is allowed and expected to

be self-directed in readiness to learn. (JAMK University of Applied Sciences,

Degree Programme in Nursing 2013.)

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3 PURPOSE, AIMS AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS OF

THE STUDY

Identifying the reasons and perceptions of nursing as a career for first year

Students in the English Degree program in nursing in JAMK University of

Applied Sciences is the aim of this study.

The purpose is to provide useful information for the school authorities to be

able to improve on the nursing program so as to develop and sustain interest

of first year nursing students, enhance their motivation and consequentially

develop their competences after graduating from the school.

Research Questions

What is the First year students’ perception of Nursing as a career?

What are the reasons for their choice of Nursing as a career?

What influenced their choice of Nursing?

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4 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESEARCH

4.1 Research Methodology

The method used is qualitative research and according to Kananen (2011, 37),

qualitative research is applicable when a new phenomenon needs to be

understood and what it is all about.

Qualitative research is suitable when there is no knowledge, theories or

research results available on a phenomenon in which the aim is to acquire a

deep understanding of it. The aim is to create new theories and hypotheses,

triangulation, so as to acquire a precise description of the phenomenon.

Qualitative research doesn’t deal with numbers but it helps us understand a

phenomenon. Qualitative research has a main rule that says the less you know

about the phenomenon, the more probable qualitative research is possible.

When the phenomenon is quite unknown and new, only qualitative research

is possible. (op. cit. p 41.)

Qualitative research is most useful in answering ‘why?’ and ‘how?’ questions

(Marshall 1996, 522) and it is characterized by the relationship between the

researcher and the participants being close and being based on a position of

equality as human beings. The researcher should be able to communicate with

and treat the participants as equals. Qualitative research also focuses on the

emic perspective, the views of the people involved in the research, their

perceptions, meanings and interpretations of the phenomenon. (Holloway &

Wheeler 2002, 10.)

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The researchers in qualitative research describe, analyse and interpret data

after or while collecting the data. It is required that in qualitative approaches

that the researchers immerse themselves in the natural setting of the people

whose thoughts and feelings they wish to explore. (Op. cit. p. 10.)

4.2 Setting

The study site is JAMK University of Applied Sciences which is an attractive,

internationally oriented higher education institution with a strong role among

developers of the Jyväskylä region and central Finland. The institution h osts

about 8000 students. It is located in Jyväskylä city, in central area of Finland.

(JAMK University of Applied Sciences 2012.)

The overall public image of JAMK was rated the best among the universities

of applied sciences. In 2000, the Ministry of Education nominated Jyväskylä

team academy as a centre of excellence in education. JAMK University of

Applied Sciences is internationally oriented and it is manifested by the

versatile cooperation with international partners, in terms of project activity

and education.

The Internationalization of the institution and Jyväskylä city has been

supported by the over 2500 international degree and exchange student s over

the past 10 years who study and enjoy JAMK’s high-quality education and get

the opportunity to complete their studies in close interaction with working

life. (Op.cit. 2012.)

In JAMK University of Applied Sciences, there are three Bachelor degree

programs offered in English. These are Degree program in logistics

 23

engineering, international business and nursing. There has been a

transformation of the international nursing degree progamme student intake

from just 16 to 40. (JAMK University of Applied Sciences 2013.)

4.3 Participants and data collection

Kananen (2011, 53), says that qualitative research cannot define the number of

participants in advance as sometimes the number of people affected by or

involved in the phenomenon is so small that all of them can be interviewed or

it could be so large that the answers keep on repeating themselves, so

according to Kananen, some books state that 12 - 15 interviewees are sufficient.

The method used in sampling is purposive sampling method. Sampling is the

selection method or procedure of a small proportion of a population to where

data is collected (Parahoo 2006, 258).

It is a common strategic sampling method where the researcher actively

selects the most productive sample to answer the research question (Marshall

1996, 522 - 525). The researcher not only decides on the participants (sample)

but also on the time and location of the research. The criteria for the selection

must be clearly identified. (Holloway& Wheeler 2002, 127.)

In this study, the participants are the JAMK University of applied sciences

first year nursing students in the international programme. The participants

had just begun their studies and therefore their responses were not influenced

by their studies in any way.

 24

The participants were categorized into two groups. Those who were studying

nursing as their first career and the second group were those who were

studying nursing as their second, third or nth career.

The exclusion criterion was those who had a diploma in nursing or are

practical nurses. This exclusion criterion was due to the fact that they are

already in the nursing field and their responses will not meet the aims and

goals of this paper. Those who were not willing to participate in the research

would have been exempted in the question answering.

In qualitative research, there are no rigid rules in that for homogenous

samples 6-8 informants suffice and in heterogeneous 12-20 suffice. Some

writers mention that most often a sample consists of between 4 - 40 informants

though certain research projects have and many as 200 informants.

(Holloway& Wheeler 2002, 128.) A total of 26 students participated in the

survey and after the exclusion criteria, only 21 transcripts were left for use.

A formal permission was submitted to the department of Nursing in JAMK

University of Applied Sciences, for approval before the commencement of the

research. When the permission was granted, all the participants were

informed of the aim, expectation and the research procedure and they were

asked to sign the consent forms which explained the confidentiality and

anonymity of the participants. The participants were also informed that their

participation was strictly voluntary and that when it gets to a point they felt

like withdrawing, it would be accepted and they were not forced to

participate.
 25

The data collection was done through questionnaires. Open- ended and closed

questions were used. Open-ended questions give the respondents the

opportunity to frame their answers in their own words and give respondents

freedom to express themselves. The length of response in open-ended

questions varies from one individual to another. (Parahoo 2006, 290.)

In the closed-ended questions the respondents are given categories and

options to choose from, therefore the respondents don’t have the ability to

express themselves freely (Op. cit. p. 286). The closed questions are asked

when the researcher knows the potential answers and only requires

respondents to select the one (s) that apply to them (Op. cit. p. 288). Closed

questions are used for the coding purposes and they will help in the results

analysis.

The students were briefed about the task and questionnaires were going to be

distributed to them and given time to answer in class so that ma ximum

amount of questionnaires were answered by the participants.

The questionnaire was tested and it turned out that it would take about 10 to

20 minutes depending on the understanding of the students and how fast they

respond to the questions. The data was interpreted and thereafter kept safely

until the presentation of the researcher’s findings and thereafter the

transcripts were destroyed.

 26

4.4 Data analysis

Content analysis was used to analyse data and the inductive method used. In

qualitative research, data analysis starts or takes place during data collection

and thereafter (Parahoo 2006, 391). It is not a linear process and not all

qualitative forms take the same approach to data analysis. The process is a

complex, time-consuming and iterative activity which should have quality

time allocated to it. (Holloway& Wheeler 2002, 235.)

In analyzing written material data, the text was read through thoroughly

several times and the researcher interpreted the material by compression

techniques which can be used to find the structures hidden in the material

(Kananen 2011, 62).

Compression is done by making notes on the margins of the text material to

get important meanings from the ‘torrent’ of words, just like making notes in

the margin of books while reading for an exam. Each sentence, clause and

paragraph may contain hidden messages and the compression is done by

‘naming’ the segment by compressing the segment into a word or few words

that describes what the segment contains. This technique helps see the units

that the material consists of. The text is then converted into a table and coding

is done. (op. cit. p. 59.)

Once the transcripts/questionnaires were collected from the participants, the

transcripts were sorted out and the ones which didn’t meet the inclusion

criteria put aside. Then the transcripts were read through for the first time to

get the general idea of the responses given. They were read the second time
 27

and ‘opening- up’ was done by noting all parts that come across as important.

Then the third time they were listed down on 3 separate sheets of plain papers

and grouping was done into themes. Then analysis required the researcher to

begin to explain how the themes are interrelated. The researcher had to

constantly read the answered transcripts to look for links, relationships,

transitions, stages, phases, preconditions or outcomes in the data. Mapping,

construction networks (of relationships between concepts) or using diagrams,

are useful techniques used to helping the researchers to make sense of the

data. (Parahoo 2006, 393-394.)

 28

5 RESULTS

The results reflected the three important aspects of this research-the

perception of nursing career and what it is all about, t he reasons for their

choice of the career and the influences on the participants in choosing the

nursing career. Based on the students’ responses to the questionnaires, the

results were analyzed and then grouped into categories and sub-categories.

On this platform the research questions were carefully analyzed.

5.1 First year student’s Perception of Nursing as a career

The students gave their responses on the perception they have on the nursing

career and the responses were grouped into three sub categories which were

care, help, responsibility and professional skills. (See table 1 below)

Responses Sub-categories Question

Provide care for the Care Explain in your own

needy words what you think

Taking care of people nursing is all about?

and helping taking care

of sick, community and

family in a clinical way

taking care of helpless

and weak people.

Helping patients recover Help

with professional skills

 29

and effective methods

Helping people recover

Knowledge and practice

of how to help patients

Helping recover with Responsibility and

professional skills and Professional skills

effective methods

Taking responsibility of

patients health

It is hard work working

with people

Table 1: What nursing is all about.

Care

Slightly more than half of the participants thought that nursing is about care

which is an important aspect in nursing career. Care is protection; charge. The

care aspect which was brought out from the responses was to the needy, the

sick, the helpless, weak, helpless. Some responses described the manner the

care was or should be given for instance with love, understanding. Example of

some participants’ responses;

‘Providing care for those in need.’

‘Generally, nursing’s main task is to take care of helpless and weak

people, in order to help them recover.’

 30

Help

Along with care was help which was always classed together with care in the

answers given by the participants. The students thought that nursing was

about helping people to recover, to be healthy mentally and physically to

improve life quality and too share love with other people and that it was a

profession where a nurse helps patients with knowledge and practice.

Responsibility and professional skills

Also, some participants thought that nursing was about being a professional

caregiver with responsibility for people. It was perceived as being an intensive

and hard job to work with people and that it is a noble profession which

requires practice and knowledge to help patients.

‘I think it is a hard work, working with other people. Responsibility,

important work’

However, a handful of responses particularly pointed out that the nursing

profession is an important job in the society as well as a noble one especially

in Finland.

‘It is really good profession. Country like Finland needs more nurses and

of course it is a noble profession’

Some of them said that they think nursing is a good profession that requires

attentiveness, patience, tolerance and knowledge.

‘Nursing is about care, determination of integrity and patience,

tolerance.’

‘It is really a good profession…..and of course it is a noble profession’

 31

5.2 Reasons for choosing the nursing career.

The students’ responses concerning the reasons for their choice of study ing

nursing were arranged into 3 sub categories. (See Table 2 below).

Responses Sub-Categories Question

Occupation that I don’t Job situation/Socio- Why did you decide to

get unemployment economic factors study nursing?

Easy to find a job

It has been my dream for

many year

It is a suitable job

situation

Do something that Personal satisfaction

matters

Do something to feed the

souls and something that

really matters

It was my dream to help

people

I think my characteristics Personal abilities

meet required nurse

traits

It is practical and needs

to communication a lot
 32

with people.

Table 2: Reasons for studying nursing

Job situation/Socio-economic factors

The focus was on the reasons why participants chose to study nursing.

Most of the students said the reason for their choice of studying nursing was

job security and the assurance of being able to get employment at any time. It

is easy for immigrations and the wages and good.

‘I decided to study because there is high demand of the profession in

Scandinavian countries.’

Personal satisfaction

Personal satisfaction was another reason for their choice of nursing career. The

urge to do something that really matters to the society and for themselves. To

some of the students, nursing is their dream career, therefore giving them

satisfaction of doing what they have always wanted to do.

‘I want to do something which would really feed my soul and something

that really matters’

‘It has been my dream for many years. I want to have a job where I can

help other people.’

Others said that they had personal abilities/ characteristics of being a nurse

that’s why they decided to study nursing and that included the ability to talk

a lot with people and that it was very practical.

 33

‘I think my characteristics meet the required traits of a nurse’

5.3 Influences of career choice

There were two questions asked to get the answer on what influenced their

choice of career. They had to give the reasons why they changed their careers

to nursing and what influenced their changes to nursing.

5.3.1 Reasons for change to nursing career.

Responses to the reasons for their change to nursing brought about two

subcategories, which were Job situation/socio-economic factors and personal

ability. (See table 3 below).

Response Sub-categories Question

couldn’t get a job Job Situation/Socio- Why did you change to

suitable job situation economic factors study nursing?

work in the real hospital

environment

Characteristics suits the Personal ability

quality required for

being a nurse

Communicate with

people

Table 3: Reasons for changing to nursing from previous Profession

 34

Job Situation/Socio-economic factors

According to the students the reasons for change of career was the job

situation/socio-economic factors and personal ability.

The most popular reason for the change of career to nursing was job

situation/socio-economic factors. The students said that they changed careers

because there were problems in finding jobs after graduating from their

previous careers, and that in nursing, it is easier to get a job due to high

demand of nurses. Also that there are multiple options in working, that is a

nurse can work in different settings. They mentioned that the wages were

good and that nursing career was good for immigration purposes too.

‘Work in the real hospital environment’

‘..Involved with patients and there are multiple options (possibility to

work in different setting.’

Personal ability

Some students said that they have the abilities or characteristics of being a

nurse. They said that they can communicate with people and that nursing

makes them feel more of they can help people.

‘Because I have characteristics that suits the quality requires for being a

nurse’
 35

5.3.2 Influences to choice of nursing career from previous

careers.

The students’ responses for influences for career choice were divided into

three sub categories which were job situation/socio-economic factors, peer

encouragement and feeling of satisfaction. (See table 4 below).

Response Sub-Categories Question

couldn’t get a job Job Situation/Socio- What influenced your

suitable job situation economic status choice of nursing

work in the real hospital career?

environment

Characteristics suits the Peer encouragement

quality required for

being a nurse

Communicate with

people

Decide to have a new Feeling of satisfaction

experience

Better career, good pay

and most importantly

mental satisfaction

Table 4: Influences of choosing nursing career.

 36

Job Situation/Socio-economic status

The Job situation/ socio-economic factors was what influenced the students

most in changing careers to nursing as they said there is ease in finding a job

with a nursing degree and the pay was good.

‘Good chance of getting a job as a nurse’

Peer encouragement

Some of them were influenced by their peers groups and friends and even

workmates who were already in the nursing field, sick relatives and voluntary

activities which they undertook before joining the nursing field.

Feeling of satisfaction

They also revealed that the feeling of satisfaction influenced their choice of the

career. The students said that the urge to make a difference and serve the

community and have new experiences in nursing career appealed to them.

Some said that they have interest in nursing career and they want to work

with people to have satisfaction in what they do and to serve humanity.

 37

6 DISCUSSION

From the study findings, the first year nursing student’s perception of nursing

career, the reasons of choosing the career and the influences for the choice

were conveyed. The students said that nursing involved caring and helping

others and it was one of the most mentioned reasons for the choice of nursing

as a career. This is consistent with a study done by Vanhanen and Janhonen

(2000, 1054) which says that majority of nursing students perceive nursing as a

career which offers opportunities in caring for people. This finding ensures

that caring remains the main essence of nursing and that it shouldn’t be

undervalued and ignored. This is true as the main idea of nursing is caring for

people especially the sick and if some other things like example money is

given priority over care, the whole idea of nursing is eroded and it is easy for

someone to leave the career for some other career altogether.

Responsibility and Professional skills emerged from the students’ perception

of nursing as a career. This is reflected by McGovern (2006), where he said

that a nurse requires characteristics of work hard, effective communication

skills and being practical and having ability to work in a team and act as a

leader. He also added that nurses remain to be the most recognized in the

health system but it will never be the most financially rewarding career, of

which is contrary to what the students expect, as the students expect the

career to be financially rewarding.

The main reason for the choice of nursing career from the responses was job

situation which was explained in form of job security, easy access to jobs,

diverse opportunities in the career. Job situation came out on top because the
 38

students want an occupation where they don’t get unemployed which was

reflected by a study done by Mooney et al. where they said that nursing is

perceived favorable for its ability to provide security of employment and

steady income. (Mooney et al. 2008).

The fact that there is shortage of nurses worldwide therefore it is easier for

graduated nurses to get jobs and they have the job security. Th erefore there is

job security and the knowledge that after studying it is easy to acquire a job

and that as the healthcare professional, one cannot go without a job, makes

nursing an ideal career. Gutierrez et al. 2010, 236-42). Nursing has good wages

and it is easy for a nurse to settle in foreign nations and work (Op. cit. p. 236-

42).

Some students said they have characteristics/traits of a nurse and that they

wanted to do something that really matters to give them satisfaction. This

was explained by Eley D et al. 2012 that one of the reasons for study nursing

and working as a nurse was that it was an opportunity for caring and that it

was a vocation in life which is congruent with the charac ter and temperament

of a nurse.

Apparently media did not play any role in influencing the students in their

career choice. None of the student mentioned it to b e an influence though

society and media play a major role in the influence of career choice according

to Rooper et al. 2006. Then again there could be a possibility that media played

a role indirectly just that the students did not see that as being important. A

study done in Dublin showed that media played a role in the students’ choice
 39

but it didn’t directly influence them in making the choice and it influences the

society’s impression of nursing career. (Mooney et al. 2007, 385-392.)

6.1 Credibility, Dependability and Transferability

The verification of reliability, validity and quality is extremely important in

scientific research. Reliability refers to consistency and repeatability of the

measurement and research results while validity refers to whether the thesis

answers the questions it is intended to answer. This is difficult in qualitative

research because they are not easily applicable to social sciences, where the

research object is an individual or a group of individuals. These reliability and

validity issues are mostly developed in natural sciences example in physics

and chemistry. Human being is a feeling and thinking being who can change

his opinion for no reason at all, therefore reliability and validity issues should

be taken into account at the planning stage, after collecting and analyzing the

data. (Kananen, 2011, 66.)

Documentation is one of the ways Kananen (2011, 67), says that gives

credibility to the study. Polit and Hungler (1999), Graneheim and Lundman

(2003) state that credibility deals with the focus of the research and it refer to

confidence in how well data and process analysis addresses the intended

focus.

Therefore, documenting reasons for each solution and the choice made in

every step of work done is essential. Keeping the diary on all actions
 40

connected to the thesis Kananen (2011, 67). The consistency of interpretation

increases the credibility of results according to Kananen. (op. cit. p. 67.)

In qualitative research, saturation is always an important issue. One case is

not always enough, if however the nature of the phenomenon is such that

only one case is relevant, the researcher has to just do with it and if the

phenomenon nature is such that more than one person is involved or affected

by it, then, many interviews can be done.

When the results start repeating themselves, then the saturation point has

been reached. Another thing is dependability, which is the degree to which

data change over time and alterations made in the researcher’s decisions

during the analysis process. There is risk of inconsistency during data

collection if it extends over-time, therefore it is advisable to question the same

areas for all the participants. (Graneheim & Lundman 2003, 110.)

Qualitative research does not aim at generalization, even if transferability is a

relevant issue as transferability is related to generalization. Polit and Hungler

(1999), Graneheim and Lundman (2003) say the transferability refers to the

extent to which the findings can be transferred to other settings or groups.

This means that the results are also valid in other similar circumstances. (Op.

cit. p 68.) This was achieved by collecting the data in one sitting with the

participants. The participants were not allowed to keep the questionnaires for

later response.

To facilitate transferability, it is valuable to give clear and distinct description

of culture and context, selection and characteristics of participants, data

 41

collection and process analysis. A vigorous and rich presentation of the

findings together with appropriate quotations will enhance transferability.

(Graneheim and Lundman 2003, 110.)

6.2 Ethical Considerations

Ethics pertains to doing ‘Good’ and avoiding harm through application of

ethical principles. Therefore protection of human subjects or participants in

any research study is imperative. (Orb, Eisenhauer and Wynaden 2001, 93.)

Due to the fact that data is collected in this thesis, ethical considerations are

taken into account. One of them is autonomy which is done by recognition of

participants’ rights, and this is done by informed consent where reasonable

balance is made in over-informing and under-informing the participants

about the exercise to be undertaken and it also means that the participants

exercise their rights as autonomous persons to voluntarily accept or refuse to

participate in the study. (Orb et al. 2001, 93.) In the data collection process for

this paper, autonomy was achieved by giving consent forms to the

participants which explained that they about the whole process and that the

whole process was voluntary and they could decline if they wished.

This is where anonymity is considered and in small groups where recognition

of participants is easy, participant protection identity is considered and they

should be told of how the publications will be done. Quotations or other data

from participants, even though anonymous, could reveal their identity.

Therefore they would approve the use of quotations to be used in

publications. (Orb et al 2001, 95.) This was done by pointing the issue out in
 42

the consent form and that they wouldn’t be identified and that after the

analysis was done, the transcripts would be destroyed.

A formal application was sent to the department of nursing in JAMK

University of Applied Sciences, to get the permission to conduct the data

collection and informed consents forms were given to the participants and the

understanding to ensure that their autonomy, confidentiality and anonymity

was signed by the participants to ensure that they understood that was

voluntary and if they decided to withdraw from taking part in the activity,

they were free to withdraw.

 43

7 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

In conclusion, the study shows that majority of the students are attracted to

the socio-economic benefits of the nursing career. A few say they are in the

career because it is their dream to be nurses and to help people. Though

majority of the students say that their influence of nursing is due to job

security, availability of jobs, good wages, flexibility in working locations but

they are not entirely into the socio-economic benefits, but have willingness to

help people in need, to make a difference in the society, get involved in

something that matters, get to communicate with people, to get fulfillment

and also to make the best out of life. So, in conclusion, as much as the socio-

economic aspect of the profession comes up so much in the study, the feeling

of satisfaction, caring, helping, fulfilled dreams come up too and it shows that

the students understand what the career is all about.

The purpose of this study was to provide useful information to the school

authorities to improve the nursing programme by improving courses that

would guide the students to take the right path, sustain motivation, arouse

more enthusiasm and retain them in this chosen career. I would recommend

the evaluation of the students’ definition of nursing career and guide them to

what nursing really entails.

I would also recommend the introduction of seminars with already graduated

and working nurses who studied in the international program in JAMK

University of Applied Sciences and other AMK Universities of Applied

sciences to talk to the students and encourage them and give them incites to

the working life of a nurse.

 44

I would recommend the continuation of this study (longitudinal study) for the

same group in second year or in their final year to see if their perception of

nursing career has changed and if it was what they had expected it to be (were

their expectations met?) and if they are confident that they would function

well in the working environment and what their plans are for the future in the

career.
 45

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9 Appendices

Appendix 1: Interview Questions

Kindly answer these questions honestly. You will not be identified from the
answers you give and your information will be kept confidential and it will be
used only for the purpose of the research and thereafter that the
questionnaires and the consent information will be destroyed.

1. Gender Female Male

2. Age range
Please choose your age group
15-20 26-30 36-40 46-50

21-25 31-35 41-45 51-55

3. Explain in your own words what you think nursing is all about?

4. Why did you decide to study nursing?

5. What have you studied (Professional or any) before the decision of studying
nursing?

6. Answer the following questions if you have done some

academic/professional studies before:
i) Why did you change to studying nursing?

ii) What influenced your choice of nursing career?

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Appendix 2: Consent form

Consent to be a research Subject

This research study is conducted by Betty Mkala a final year student at JAMK

University of Applied Science and it is to find out the perceptions of nursing

career and the reasons for choosing nursing as a career for the first year

international students in JAMK University of Applied Sciences.

You will be asked to fill out the questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of 7

questions and it will take approximately 10-20 minutes. The questions will

ask for detail about your previous studies, current studies and your rea sons

and ideas about nursing career and influences for choosing nursing career.

There are no risks for participation in this study. It is safe to participate and all

information provided in this survey will remain confidential and reported

anonymously with no identification information. After the research is over the

questionnaire will be destroyed.

Participation in this study is voluntary and you have the right to withdraw

anytime or refuse to participate entirely without jeopardy to your education.

Thank you so much for your co-operation.

If you have any questions regarding the study, you may contact Betty on

[email protected].

I have read, understood and received a copy of the above consent and desire f

my own free will and volition to participate in this study.

Signature: ____________________________ Date:_____________________

 52

Appendix 3: Key words

Nursing career – an occupation or profession in nursing.

Perception- The act apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind;

cognition; understanding.

Nursing students- A person enrolled in studying nursing.

Attitudes- Manner, disposition, feeling, position etc, with regard to a person,

thing; tendency or orientation especially of the mind.

Influences- The capacity of power of persons or things to be a compelling

force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions etc of others.

Choices- An act or instance of choosing; selection.