The image of nursing among nursing and other healthcare professional university students: A mixed-method study

Aim: This study had three objectives: (1) determining the image of nursing in the eyes of undergraduate health sciences students; (2) identifying factors affecting that image; and (3) evaluating students’ views and experiences regarding that image. Background: If healthcare students perceive nursing positively, it may result in directing future generations to nursing, and improving nursing, and reducing the need for nurses. Design: This study adopted an explanatory sequential design with participant selection variant. The design involved data collection in two consecutive phases. Methods: A mixed-method design using quantitative data and qualitative interviews was used. In the quantitative phase, a descriptive and cross-sectional research method was used. The qualitative phase was based on phenomenological research. The quantitative portion was performed with 1556 participants in their second, third or fourth year during the 2019–2020 academic year. Students were from the nursing, emergency and disaster management, nutrition and dietetics, occupational health and safety, health management, and social work departments. The qualitative portion was performed with 29 participant volunteers. Participants were interviewed on the phone. The data were collected using an introductory information form, a nursing image scale, and semi-structured interviews. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the independent-samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, one-way ANOVA, and stepwise linear regression. The quantitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: There were significant relationships between participants' nursing image scale total scores and their department (p < 0.001), education year (p = 0.014), age (p = 0.032) and desire to recommend the nursing profession (p < 0.001). Nursing image scale total score was significantly higher in nursing departments than in other departments. Second-year participants and 18–20-year-olds had higher total scores than fourth-year participants and 21–23-year-olds, respectively, and those who would recommend the nursing profession had higher total scores than those who would not recommend it (p < 0.05). Analysis of the qualitative data produced six main themes: perceptions of the nursing profession, perceived nursing figure, nurse knowledge, relationship with healthcare professionals, reason for preference and job gender. Conclusion: This study employed a mixed-method design involving both quantitative and qualitative stages. The results highlighted the image of nursing and its significance in the eyes of prospective healthcare professionals. Detecting nursing image early can increase professional training and improve the professional image of nursing. We should take into account the factors that negatively affect the image of nursing to plan nursing education better in the future.