Abstract
BackgroundThere is an increasing shortage of highly educated community nurses; only a small number of nursing students choose to work in the community. ObjectivesTo understand the perception among nursing students in Saudi Arabia about working in the community and where they intend to pursue their careers. DesignA quantitative cross-sectional design. Settings and participantsA convenience sample of undergraduate students enrolled in their first to final years of a bachelor's degree program at three Saudi Arabian universities. MethodsData were collected from September–December 2022 using the ‘Scale on Community Care Perceptions’, which included demographic questions and measures reflecting their impressions of a community care placement, a community care career, and their current placement preferences. ResultsIn total, 439 students completed the online questionnaire. Nursing students' community care feelings (affective component), expectations, and regards as a future profession were moderately positive with a mean of 6.68 (1–10 scale; negative-positive perceptions). Regarding placement preference, many students chose general hospitals (N = 212, 48.30 %); a small number chose community care (N = 77, 17.54 %). The positive choice of respondents was influenced by the various technical nursing skills required (N = 212, 10.6 %), enjoyable relationships with patients (N = 211, 10.5 %), and many opportunities for advancement (N = 169, 8.4 %). Furthermore, students' placement preferences were significantly predicted by their expectations of placement and future professions in community care (F = 95.24, p < 0.01, R2 = 0.30). A significant difference was also found among their preferences in terms of the level of education and the experience of family and friends working in the community (p < 0.01). ConclusionCommunity care is an undervalued career choice among nursing students in Saudi Arabia. To bolster nursing students to prefer this career path, nursing schools, in coordination with local authorities, must formulate and implement a clearly defined career development plan that allows them to fully immerse themselves in community care activities.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.