title: Attitudes and beliefs versus study results: exemplified by attrition in a school of nursing in Israel during 1968-1974.
abstract: Head nurses and faculty members have their own beliefs on and attitudes towards the process of selecting candidates to schools of nursing. Many times these are based on impressions and/or everyday experiences that might have a crucial influence on perception of the issue. These impressions are not always verified when a study is conducted. This article reports on some of the issues and findings regarding attrition in one school for registered nurses in Israel during the years 1968-1974. It also describes what head nurses and faculty members thought to be valid criteria in the selection process, though findings revealed that things are not always as they are believed to be. For example, psychological tester recommendations were thought to be crucial in selecting candidates and preventing attrition, but no significant correlation was found between the recommendations and attrition. Head nurses thought that the main reason for attrition was dissatisfaction, although this was not found to be a stated reason. This belief of the head nurses should evidently be investigated. Findings support the author's belief that local studies are important and that faculty members and head nurses should communicate on the issue of student nurse selection and education.
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004510:Education, Nursing, Diploma Programs; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012579:Schools, Nursing; D013332:Student Dropouts