title: Motivating factors in a student's choice of nursing as a career.
abstract: Motivation factors in a student's choice of nursing as a career were the focus of this study. There was a three-fold purpose: definition of nursing, reasons for choosing nursing, and who/what influenced their choice. A questionnaire was developed to collect data from a random national sample of nine BSN and 11 ADN NLN-accredited schools. The five most frequent responses to the question "What does nursing mean to you?" were: caring, personal growth, illness focus, professionalism, and job security. The most frequently reported reasons for choosing nursing were: nurturance, emotional needs, employment opportunities, financial benefits, and interest in science. Practicing nurses were identified most frequently as influencing students' image of nursing/choice of nursing. Nursing continues to be perceived as a caring profession as well as one that offers many personal benefits.
authors.affiliation: William Jewell College, Liberty, MO 64068.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kersten
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bakewell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D004507:Education, Nursing, Associate; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States