Attitudes of student nurses to work with children

Abstract

Introduction: Nurses are an important resource for health systems and occupy a significant place in providing effective and quality health care. Meanwhile,the shortage of nurses, including pediatric, is a serious problem at national and international level. Therefore, the study of the attitudes of student nurses to work with children has important scientific and practical significance. Objective : To explore attitudes to work with children of students from second and fourth course, specialty „Nurse` at the Medical University - Varna. Material and Methods: Analysis of literature, documentary and questionnaire method. We tested the opinion of 54 students from the second year and 36 fourth year students of specialty „Nurse` at the Medical University - Varna through direct group anonymous survey. The survey was conducted in February and March 2016. Results: A significant part of the future nurses from the second and fourth course stand ready to work with children after graduation. Among second year students the highest proportion of those willing to work with a pediatrician is in the Diagnostic and consultative center. In contrast, most of their colleagues from the fourth course prefer to work in the Children‘s sector at Multispecialty Hospital for Active Treatment. Both groups of respondents cited as the main motive for work in the field of pediatrics is the love for children. Conclusion: The positive attitudes of future nurses to work with children are a guarantee for successful implementation of one of the priority activities of our modern health care - health care for children.