Factors affecting the choice of profession of 1st grade nursing students

Aim:The study aimed at identifying reasons for choosing nursing profession of first grade nursing students.Methods: The study designed in descriptive model, was also carried out in Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Health Sciences with 141 students who agreed to participate in the study from 180 first grade nursing students.The data were gathered using Information Form and Scale of nurse career choice (SNCC) between the 14 March -1 April 2016 and were analysed with percentages, means, ANOVA, T tests, Mann Whitney U and Kruskall Wallis tests.Results: According to SNCC; students' mean total percent score was 52.34%±14.54%,mean percent score for professional suitability was 54.21%±19.99% and mean percent score for vital reasons were 48.90%±15.10%.Especially professional suitability percent scores and total scale percent scores of those who made first five career options nursing during the profession selection period after university entrance exam and were served by nurses were high.Percent scores vital reasons of those who preferred nursing because their university entrance grades were enough only for nursing schools were higher while percent score of professional suitability were lower (p<0.05). Conclusion:It was explored that students preferred nursing due to high employment possibility in nursing, being interested in nursing, encouragements of families and health care staff and attractive economic factors.In this direction, it may be suggested to plan and implement programs to increase students' will, ability and success in order to train qualified nurses.