http://doi.org/10.33698/NRF0131 -Anurag B.Patidar, Jasbir Kaur, Suresh K Sharma, Neeraj Sharma
Abstract : This study was aimed to explore the perception of outgoing nursing students towards nursing profession and perceived future job orientation. Sample of 530 outgoing GNM, B. Sc. (N) and Post Basic B Sc Nursing students was recruited through proportionate stratified random sampling from conveniently selected twelve nursing colleges of Punjab State. Semi-structured questionnaire was administered to collect data. Findings revealed that majority of the students (83.2%) were self motivated to join nursing. Majority (99.1%) of the students, perceived nursing profession as an opportunity to serve humanity and a way to get due recognition in the society (69.6%). Two third of (69.4%) the nursing student perceived their profession as dignified and respectful as well as a way to get due recognition in society (69.6%). There was almost equal percent of the students who planned to join teaching (46.4%) and bed side nursing (45.5%) after completion of course. A vast majority (93.4%) of the students were not interested to change their profession. Male students were significantly more interested in bed side nursing as compared to female students (p=0.04). More than half of the urban students (52.5%) were interested to join teaching followed by bed side nursing (39.5%); on contrary, the rural students were predominantly interested to join bed side nursing (50%) followed by 41.8% teaching job (p=0.039). The present study concluded that the perception of nursing profession among nursing students is changing towards positive side and majority of the students perceived that nursing is a profession with bright prospects and it provides due recognition in society.
Key words :
Perception towards nursing profession, outgoing nursing student, job prospectives.
Correspondence at :
Anurag Bhai Patidar,
Lecturer, College of Nursing,
Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana
Introduction
Nursing is a health care profession, which is focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities; so that they can attain, maintain, or recover optimum health. Nurses care for individuals of all ages and cultural backgrounds who are healthy and ill in a holistic manner based on the individual’s physical, emotional, psychological, intellectual, social, and spiritual needs.
In ancient time, nursing care was provided by men and women serving punishment. It was often associated with prostitutes, widows, poor family women and other female criminals. Because of involvement of such type of people the reputation of nursing was low in society and the attitude of people towards it was negative. Ms Florence Nightingale the lady with a lamp a well-educated woman from an affluent class family became a nurse and improved the profession drastically in nineteenth century that people gradually began to accept nursing as a respectable profession in the society. At that time, nursing was seen as employment that needed neither study nor intelligence. In India, nursing hindered due to various reasons like low state of women, system of “pardha” among Muslims, caste system among Hindus, illiteracy, poverty, and political unrest1.
After the establishment of Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI) and Indian Nursing Council (INC) in the year 1908 and 1947 respectively. Nursing profession continued to grow and over the past 100 years the attitude of the society towards it has been changed to some extent. The attitude of the most nursing students is believed to be negative towards this profession in India. A number of factors determine this negative attitude of students which may include low reputation of the profession in society, no definite job description for nurses, no criteria for various administrative posts in nursing, no use of higher degrees for higher post, dominance of doctors everywhere in all job settings, no autonomy to the profession and lower salary of nurses. Nursing profession is not attractive for meritorious as well as other high school students; they do not see it as a good carrier option2,3,4,5,6.
Previous research studies, reported that most students decided to join nursing profession because they had a desire to help others, and nursing was perceived as caring and serving humanity job; on contrary, Lai HL et al conducted a study in Taiwan and found that 65.4% of the nursing students would not choose nursing as career after graduation. Attitude of junior nursing students toward their future profession was alarming. Many of the students were not planning to practice nursing at beside nor did they consider quality bedside care a priority for their career10.
In the 21st century, there is growing demand of nurses worldwide. In the India, there is acute shortage of nurses, and nurse patient ratio is not optimal leading to increase workload on the nurses and compromised patient care. Many strategies are currently needed to address a profound nursing shortage that is threatening health care quality. One strategy is to increase the interest of youth in the profession of nursing. Several research studies reported that most of the nursing graduates are reluctant to join bed side nursing which is badly required by the health care industry and those who joined it has not right attitude towards the profession hence compromising quality nursing care which is essential in this era of quality assurance and patient bill of rights.
In India entry level courses in nursing are Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM), General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B. Sc. Nursing) Opportunities are also available for higher education after basic nursing education. Most of the B. Sc. (N) or M. Sc. (N) qualified nurses choose their carrier as a teacher in college of nursing as it provides them some autonomy in their work, increase job satisfaction, higher professional recognition and better salary. Beside teaching in college of nursing other job opportunities available for nurses are bed side nursing care in hospital, community or public health nurse, and nursing administration. For Indian nurses there are bright job prospects in foreign countries like USA, Australia, Canada and UK where they can enjoy a relatively good status of the profession.
It is the need of hour that bed side nursing should be made attractive in terms of working conditions so that demands of nurses in direct patient care can be met. In India there very few studies which explored the attitude and future job prospective of outgoing nursing students so the present study was under taken to explore the perception of nursing profession and future job prospective among outgoing nursing students in the state Punjab.
Materials and methods
A cross sectional survey was conducted on outgoing nursing student of twelve conveniently selected colleges and schools of nursing in the district Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Nawashahar and Hoshiarpur of the state Punjab. A sample of 530 outgoing nursing students (155 B. Sc. Nursing, 150 Post Basic B. Sc. Nursing and 225 GNM students) was drawn through proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The number of subjects from each discipline (strata) of nursing (B. Sc. (N), PB B. Sc. (N), GNM) were in the same proportion as existing in the population at the time of data collection (1:1:1.5). Attendance register was used to recruit the sample and every alternate student on attendance register was included in the study. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Reliability of the tool was established on 30 study participants through test retest method and reliability coefficient was found to be statistically significant (r=0.9). Content validity of the tool was established from five experts of nursing field. Those students who were unable to understand English, absent on the day of data collection, unwilling to participate were excluded from the study. Permission for data collection was obtained from concerned principals of the schools and colleges of nursing. Written consent was taken from participants before data collection. Questionnaires were administered in the classroom to the participants and they were provided 15-20 minutes to complete the questionnaire.
Data was analyzed using STATA version
9.1. Sample was divided in to three groups: GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) group,
MSc. (N) (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) group, and PB B. Sc. (N) group (Post Basic Bachelor of Science in Nursing). Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation and percentage) was used to describe sample characteristics; inferential statistics (t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test) was used to identify group differences and association of selected socio-demographic variables with perception of nursing profession and future job prospective.
Results
Sample characteristics
Mean age of outgoing nursing students was 22 ± 2.3 years. B. Sc. (N) and GNM group was slightly younger than PB B. Sc. (N) group. Female (96.2%) dominated over the male (3.8%) in study sample. Majority of the outgoing students were Sikhs (74.3%) followed by Hindus (15.6%), and Christians and others (10.2%). More than half (55.1%) of the outgoing students were rural dwellers; on contrary, slightly more than half (51.6%) of the students in B. Sc. (N) group were urban dwellers.
Unmarried students (95.5%) outnumbered the married students (4.5%) in the present study. Nearly half of (49.6%) the outgoing nursing students were in first birth order; fur thermore, same pattern was observed in all the three groups of the student. Annual family income of 43.8% of the outgoing nursing students was 1-3 lacs rupees; almost the same percentage (42.3%) of the outgoing nursing students were having less than 1 lac rupees annual family income. Almost half of the students in B Sc (N) and PB B Sc (N) group were having annual family income 1-3 lacs rupees whereas in GNM group, it was less than 1 lac rupees (P=0.000).
More than half (56%) of the outgoing nursing students were not having any family member or relative in nursing profession, majority of them (83.2%) were self motivated to join nursing profession (Refer Table 1).
Perception of nursing profession among outgoing nursing students
A vast majority the outgoing nursing students (99.1%) perceived that nursing profession is an oppor tunity to serve humanity; although, few B. Sc. Nursing students (5%) were disagree with this but all the PB B. Sc. (N) and GNM students were agree (P=0.002). In general majority of (81.9%) the outgoing nursing students perceived that there is an opportunity for personal growth in nursing profession. However, significantly more number of B. Sc. (N) students (23.9%) did not perceive opportunity of personal growth in nursing profession as compared to PB B. Sc. Nursing (11.3%) and GNM (18.7%) students (P=0.016).
Two third of (69.6%) the outgoing nursing students perceived nursing profession as a way to get due recognition in society. However, more than half of the B. Sc. (N) students (52.3%) did not perceive nursing profession as a way to get due recognition in society as compared to PB
Table 1: Socio Demographic Profile of Outgoing Nursing Students N=530
| Socio Demographic Variables | B. Sc. (N) (n=155) | PB B Sc. (N) (n=150) | GNM (n=225) | Total Statistical Tests (N=530) | |
| Age (in Years) | 21 ± 0.7 | 24 ± 3.0 | 21 ± 1.7 | 22 ± 2.3 F=93.09 P=0.000 | |
| Gender
Male |
8 (05.2) |
7 (04.7) |
5 (02.2) |
20 (03.8) c2 =2.64 |
|
| Female | 147 (94.8) | 143 (95.3) | 220 (99.8) | 510 (96.2) P = 0.266 | |
| Religion | |||||
| Hindu | 28 (18.1) | 17 (11.3) | 37 (16.4) | 82 (15.6) | c2 =5.07 |
| Sikh | 112 (72.2) | 121 (80.7) | 161 (71.5) | 394 (74.3) | P=0.279 |
| Christian & others | 15 (09.7) | 12 (08.0) | 27 (12.0) | 54 (10.2) | |
| Habitation
Rural |
75 (48.4) |
79 (52.7) |
138 (60.4) |
292 (55.1) |
c2 =6.71 |
| Urban | 80 (51.6) | 71 (47.3) | 87 (38.6) | 238 (44.9) | P=0.034 |
| Marital status
Married |
5 (03.3) |
16 (10.7) |
7 (03.1) |
24 (04.5) |
c2=12.12 |
| Unmarried | 150 (96.7) | 134 (89.3) | 218 (96.9) | 506 (95.5) | P=0.002 |
| Birth order
First |
80 (51.6) |
73 (48.7) |
110 (48.9) |
263 (49.6) |
c2=7.20 |
| Second | 57 (36.8) | 44 (29.3) | 69 (30.7) | 170 (32.1) | P=0.125 |
| Third and above | 18 (11.6) | 33 (22.0) | 46 (20.4) | 97 (18.3) | |
| Annual family income in rupees | |||||
| <1lac | 43 (27.7) | 58 (38.7) | 123 (54.7) | 224 (42.3) | c2=36.89 |
| 1-3 lacs | 78 (50.3) | 74 (49.3) | 80 (35.5) | 232 (43.8) | P=0.000 |
| 4-6 lacs | 27 (17.4) | 16 (10.7) | 13 (05.8) | 56 (10.5) | |
| >6 lacs | 7 (04.5) | 2 (01.3) | 9 (04.0) | 18 (03.4) | |
| Any family member or relative in nursing | |||||
| Yes | 58 (37.4) | 73 (48.7) | 102 (45.3) | 233(44.0) | c2 =4.21 |
| No | 97 (62.6) | 77 (51.3) | 123 (54.7) | 297(56.0) | P=0.121 |
| Reason to join nursing:
Self motivated |
120 (77.4) |
121 (80.7) |
200 (88.9) |
441 (83.2) |
c2 =9.60 |
| Forced by parents | 35 (22.6) | 29 (19.3) | 25 (11.1) | 89 (16.8) | P=0.008 |
Note: all data are presented in f (%) except age which is presented in mean ± SD. B. Sc (N) = Bachelor of Science in nursing, PB B Sc (N) = Post Basic Bachelor of Science in nursing, GNM=General Nursing and Midwifery.
BSc. Nursing (22.7%) and GNM (20.4%) students. (P=0.000). Majority of the (85.5%) outgoing nursing students perceived that nursing is profession of ethical standards. Furthermore, significantly more number of GNM (94.7%) and P.B B.Sc. Nursing students (87.3%) agreed with this as compared to B.Sc. Nursing students (70.3%); which was found statistically significant (P=0.000).
In general more than two third (69.4%) outgoing nursing students perceived that nursing profession is dignified and respectful profession. However, significantly more number of B.Sc. Nursing students (54.2%) did not agree with this as compared to P.B.Sc. Nursing (22.7%) and GNM (20.4%) students (P=0.000). In general nearly half (51.5%) of the outgoing nursing students believed that nursing profession does not provide any oppor tunity to get better marriage partner. Significantly more number of B.Sc. Nursing students (65.8%) believed this as compared to GNM (46.2%) and P.B. B.Sc. Nursing (44.7%) Students (P=0.000) (Table-2).
Overall majority of (75.8%) outgoing nursing student perceived that nursing profession is not equal to other professions. Contrarily majority of them perceived that being nurse provides the opportunity to have bright prospects in abroad (86.8%) as well as offers economic security in professional life (76.0%); which can be perused from Table 2.
Future job prospective among outgoing nursing students
Preference to join bedside nursing was shown by even less than half of the students (45.5%). Significantly more number of PB B. Sc. (N) students (65.3%) planned to opt for teaching role as compared to B.Sc. Nursing (52.9%) or GNM (29.3%) students (P=0.000).
Surprisingly about 2/3rd of the outgoing nursing students (66%) planned to go abroad after completion of their nursing programs. Significantly more number of B.Sc. Nursing students (71%) wanted to work in abroad as compared to GNM (68.4%) and Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing students (57.3%) (P=0.02). Slightly more than half (52.6%) of the nursing students were not planning to join higher education in near future. Significantly more number of B.Sc. Nursing students (71%) were not interested to join higher education as compared to PB B. Sc. Nursing (45.3%) and GNM (44.9%) students (P=0.007) (Table-3).
A majority (90%) of the outgoing nursing students were not interested to change their profession in future. Furthermore, significantly more number of GNM (98.7%) and P.B. B.Sc. Nursing (98.0%) did not wanted to change their profession as compared to B.Sc. Nursing (81.3%) (P=0.000); which can be perused from Table 3.
Table 2: Perception of Nursing Profession among Outgoing Nursing Students
N=530
| Perception of nursing profession | B. Sc. (N) | PB B. Sc. (N) | GNM (N) | Total | Statistical |
| Nursing profession is- | (n=155) f (%) | (n=150) f (%) | (n=225) f (%) | (N=530) f (%) | Test |
| An opportunity to serve Humanity
Yes |
150 (96.8) |
150 (100) |
225 (100) |
525 (99.1) |
c2 = 12.21 |
| No | 5 (03.2) | ——– | ——— | 5 (00.9) | P= 0.002 |
| An opportunity for personal growth | |||||
| Yes | 118 (76.1) | 133 (88.7) | 183 (81.3) | 434 (81.9) | c2 = 8.15 |
| No | 37 (23.9) | 17 (11.3) | 42 (18.7) | 96 (18.1) | P =0.016 |
| A way to have bright prospects in abroad | |||||
| Yes | 127 (81.9) | 135 (90.0) | 198 (88) | 460 (86.8) | c2 =4.822 |
| No | 28 (18.1) | 15 (10.0) | 27 (12) | 70 (13.2) | P= 0.08 |
| A way to enjoy economic security | |||||
| Yes | 115 (74.2) | 118 (78.7) | 170 (75.6) | 403 (76.0) | c2 =0.887 |
| No | 40 (25.8) | 32 (21.3) | 55 (24.4) | 127 (24.0) | P= 0.64 |
| Caring profession in which ethical standards of care is maintained | |||||
| Yes | 109 (70.3) | 131 (87.3) | 213 (94.7) | 453 (85.5) | c2 =44.38 |
| No | 46 (29.7) | 19 (12.7) | 12 (05.3) | 77 (14.5) | P= 0.000 |
| A way to get due recognition in society | |||||
| Yes | 74 (47.7) | 116 (77.3) | 179 (79.6) | 369 (69.6) | c2 =49.80 |
| No | 81 (52.3) | 34 (22.7) | 46 (20.4) | 161 (30.4) | P = 0.000 |
| A dignified & respectful profession | |||||
| Yes | 71 (45.8) | 110 (73.3) | 187 (83.1) | 368 (69.4) | c2 =61.67 |
| No | 84 (54.2) | 40 (26.7) | 38 (16.9) | 162 (30.6) | P=0.000 |
| A mean to earn blessings | |||||
| Yes | 144 (92.9) | 141 (94.0) | 217 (96.4) | 502 (94.7) | c2 = 2.514 |
| No | 11 (07.1) | 9 (06.0) | 8 (03.6) | 28 (05.3) | P= 0.284 |
| Actually equal to other professions | |||||
| Yes | 32 (20.6) | 45 (30.0) | 51 (22.7) | 128 (24.2) | c2 = 4.112 |
| No | 123 (79.4) | 105 (70.0) | 174 (77.3) | 402 (75.8) | P= 0.127 |
| An opportunity to get better marriage offers | |||||
| Yes | 53 (34.2) | 83 (55.3) | 121 (53.8) | 257 (48.5) | c2= 18.014 |
| No | 102 (65.8) | 67 (44.7) | 104 (46.2) | 273 (51.5) | P= 0.000 |
Table 3: Perceived future job prospective among outgoing nursing students N=530
| Job Prospectives | B Sc (N) | PB B Sc (N) | GNM | Total | Chi- statistic |
| (n=155) f (%) | (n=150) f (%) (n=225) f (%)(N=530) f (%) | ||||
| Plan to join after graduation/diploma: | |||||
| Teaching institution | 82 (52.9) | 98 (65.3) | 66 (29.3) | 246 (46.4) | c2=7.32 |
| Bedside nursing | 60 (38.7) | 41 (27.3) | 140 (62.2) | 241 (45.5) | P=0.000 |
| Nursing Administration | 13 (08.4) | 11 (07.3) | 19 (08.4) | 43 (08.1) | |
| Stay after graduation/diploma
India |
45 (29.0) |
64 (42.7) |
71 (31.6) |
180 (34.0) |
c2 =7.32 |
| Abroad | 110 (71.0) | 86 (57.3) | 154 (68.4) | 350 (66.0) | p =0.02 |
| Plan for higher education | |||||
| Yes | 45 (29.0) | 82 (54.7) | 124 (55.1) | 251 (47.4) | c2 =14.23 |
| No | 110 (71.0) | 68 (45.3) | 101 (44.9) | 279 (52.6) | p=0.007 |
| Plan change the profession
Yes |
29 (18.7) |
3 (02.0) |
3 (01.3) |
35 (06.6) |
c2 =52.11 |
| No | 126 (81.3) | 147 (98.0) | 222 (98.7) | 495 (93.4) | p =0.000 |
Male students (70.0%) were significantly more interested in bedside nursing as compared to their female counterparts (44.3%) (P=0.04). Significantly more number of Sikh (48.2%) and Hindu (46.3%) nursing students were interested to join teaching; as compared to their counterparts in Christian and others religion (33.3%) (P=0.005). Significantly more number of rural students (50%) were interested in joining the bedside nursing as compared to urban students (39.5%) and visa- versa for the teaching career (P=.039), which can be perused from Table 4.
Table 4: Association of Sociodemographic Variables with Perceived Job Prospectives
N=530
| Selected socio-demographic variables | Teaching | Bed side nursing | Nursing administration | Statistical test |
| Gender
Male |
4 (20.0) |
14 (70.0) |
2 (10.0) |
c2 =6.051 |
| Female | 243 (47.6) | 226 (44.3) | 41 (08.0) | p=0.048 |
| Religion | ||||
| Hindu | 38 (46.3) | 36 (43.9) | 8 (09.8) | c2 =14.582 |
| Sikh | 190 (48.2) | 180 (45.7) | 24 (06.1) | p=0.005 |
| Christian and others | 18 (33.3) | 25 (46.3) | 11 (20.4) | |
| Habitation
Rural |
122 (41.8) |
146 (50.0) |
4 (8.2) |
c2 =6.449 |
| Urban | 125 (52.5) | 94 (39.5) | 19 (8.0) | p=0.039 |
Discussion
The sample of the present study consists of young outgoing nursing students with female dominance from all the streams of profession. Most of the previous studies9,10,11 also reported the same sample characteristics. Overall majority of the students perceived that nursing is a profession to serve humanity, earn blessings of the people; which also may provide an opportunity for personal growth, bright prospective in abroad and their by an economic security. However, the perception of the B. Sc. nursing students was alarming towards nursing profession, significant number of them did not perceive nursing as a dignified and respectful profession to get due social recognition, and equal to other professions. Our findings are par tially consistent with some previous research studies 12,13 . This negative attitude may be related with stereotype thinking of Indian society as nursing profession is having a dark history. In the present study most of the outgoing nursing students accepted that nursing profession is caring profession in which ethical standard of caring is maintained. O Brien et al11 also reported that caring is essence of nursing.
The present study explored that most of the nursing students were not interested to change their profession; our finding is not consistent with previous published research study14. More than half of the undergraduates (52.9%, 65.3% in B. Sc. (N) and PB B. Sc. (N) group respectively) were interested to join teaching after completion of graduation which may highlight their need to get rid of bad social image of bed side nurse and it is self satisfactory to them to be known as a teacher instead of a bed side nurse. Our findings suppor t previously published repor t15 . Majority of the outgoing nursing students were not having any family member or relative in nursing profession. It indirectly suggests that those who are already in this profession do not want their children or relatives in to the nursing profession. Our finding supports the results of survey of American Nurses Association.13
Majority of the students were attracted to migrate in foreign country in hope to get good professional opportunities and better quality of life. Future plan for migration may be one reason why most of the nursing students were not interested to join higher studies. Although, half of the rural students were interested to join bed side nursing the reason behind this may be that most of them were belonging to poor families and they have to satisfy economic needs of their family on priority basis and jobs in bed side nursing are easily available, but the urban students who belong to typical middle class of Indian society were reluctant to join bed side nursing. The study explored the need of strong leadership, lobbying for the autonomy of the profession, public awareness about the improved salary structure of the nurses after the recommendation of 6th pay commission of India and roles the nurse plays in health care settings. This may correct the social image of the profession, hence the attitudes of the nursing students. Without improving the attitude of the nursing students towards nursing profession better quality of patient care cannot be expected from young nursing professionals and also the deficit of good bed side nurses cannot be fulfilled in future. Similar types of studies are recommended on national level including more male students.
The study concluded that the perception of nursing profession among nursing students is changing towards positive side and majority of the students perceived that nursing is a profession to serve humanity, earn blessings of the people; which also may provide an opportunity for personal growth, bright prospective in abroad and their by an economic security. However, the significant number B.Sc. Nursing students did not perceive nursing as a dignified and respectful profession to get due social recognition, and equal to other professions. Majority of the future nurses are willing to serve in abroad; only few of them are interested working as bedside nurse and only few of them were interested in higher education in future. Males, Christians and rural students were more interested in bedside nursing as compared to their other counterparts.
Therefore, it is recommended to; nursing students must be motivate to work initially on bedside nursing and Government and authorities must proactive and pay a due attention to prevent brain drain in nursing.
References
- No Development of Nursing education in India: Pre independence. Available online at http://nursingplanet.com/nr/blog6.php/ 2009/11/23/development-of-nursing-education- in-india-pre-indpendence retrived on 17/03/11.
- egazon CE, Shaw Urban high school students’ perceptions of nursing as a career choice. J Natl Black Nurses Assoc 2007;Jul; 18(1):8-13.
- Al-Omar BA. Knowledge, attitudes and intention of high school students towards the nursing profession in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J 2004;Feb;25(2):150-5.
- Rossiter JC, Bidewell J, Chan Non- English speaking background high school students’ attitudes towards the nursing profession. J Adv Nurs 1998; Mar;27(3):604-13.
- Neilson GR, Lauder What do high academic achieving school pupils really think about a career in nursing: analysis of the narrative from paradigmatic case interviews. Nurse Educ Today 2008;Aug 28(6):680-90.
- Rossiter JC, Foong A, Chan Attitudes of Hong Kong high school students towards the nursing profession. Nurse Educ Today; Aug;19(6):464-71.
- Prater L, McEwen M. Called to nursing: perceptions of student Journal of Holistic Nursing 2006; Mar; 24(1):63-69.
- Rognstad MK, Aasland O, Granum How do nursing students regard their future career? Career preferences in the post-modern society. Nurse Education Today 2004; Oct ;24(7):493-500.
- Lai HL, Peng TC, Chang FM. Factors associated with career decision in Taiwanese nursing students: a questionnaire International Journal of Nursing Studies 2006; Jul; 43(5):581-88.
- Lisa M. Pugsley. Poster presentation: Nurses’ Attitudes toward Their Profession. Water’s Edge Ballroom, Hilton Waikoloa Jul;2005.
- O’Brien F, Mooney M, Glacken Impressions of nursing before exposure to the field. J Clin Nurs 2008;Jul;17(14):1843-50.
- Miers ME, Rickaby CE, Pollard KC. Career choices in health care: is nursing a special case? A content analysis of survey Int J Nurs Stud 2007; Sep;44(7):1196-209.
- Rognstad MK, Aasland Change in career aspirations and job values from study time to working life. J Nurs Manag 2007;May; 15(4):424-32.
- Pelletier D, Donoghue J, Duffield Understanding the nursing workforce: a longitudinal study of Australian nurses six years after graduate study. Aust J Adv Nurs 2005;Sep- Nov;23(1):37-43.
- Chauvette, N Bedside nursing is “hard” and therefore undesirable. Critical Care Nurse 2004 ;24: 10-12.
- Trained Nurses Association of History and trends in Nursing in India 2000, New Delhi.
- Trained Nurses Association of Indian Nursing Year Book 2000, New Delhi.