ATTITUDES OF PROFESSIONAL NURSE DEGREE STUDENTS ON THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONAL NURSES IN THE HEALTHCARE TEAM

Abstract

Background: The unique role of a nurse is to assist an individual, sick or healthy, in performing activities that contribute to health or recovery (or a peaceful death), which the individual would perform independently if they had the necessary strength, will, or knowledge. Virginia Henderson (1897–1996) A nurse today, apart from possessing professional knowledge and skills, must be an emotionally mature and stable person in order to be able to understand and deal with human suffering, emergencies, health problems, and ethical dilemmas. She should be ready to accept responsibility and work independently and in a team. Nurses have an important role in solving public health problems. They provide safe, high-quality, effective, and efficient health services, which makes this profession particularly important for the protection and improvement of people's health. Aim: To examine the attitudes and opinions of students about the role of a nurse as a mandatory member of the health team, the satisfaction of the position, and the respectability of the nurse profession in Serbia. Material and Methods: The research was conducted as a cross-sectional study over a period of 2 months. The research was conducted electronically, and the sample consisted of 95 students majoring in professional nursing at the Preschool Teacher Training and Business Informatics College of Applied Studies “Sirmium” and the Preschool Teacher Training and Medical College “Mihailo Palov” in Vršac, students of different genders and ages who actively attended studies at the time of questioning. Results: Most of the surveyed students were female, 85%, while the other 15% were male. Out of the total number of surveyed students, 46.4% do not agree at all or mostly agree with the statement that other members of the team value professional nurses. The majority of students agree with the statement that continuous education is necessary (83.4%). The largest number of students agree with the statement that the job of a professional nurse is as responsible as the job of other members of the healthcare team (92.5%). The opinion of the majority of students is that the job of a professional nurse is more valued abroad than in Serbia (87.5%). Conclusion: Based on the results of the research, we can conclude that there is a prevailing dissatisfaction among students with the position of professional nurse in the health team. Students believe that the job of a professional nurse is just as responsible as the job of other members of the health team, and the continuous education of the nursing staff would contribute to the respectability and adequate position of the nursing profession in Serbia.