Baccalaureate nursing students' attitudes toward poverty: implications for nursing curricula.
Given the link between poverty and health, nurses, in their work in hospitals and in the community, often come into contact with people who are poor. To be effective care providers, nurses must have an adequate understanding of poverty and a positive attitude toward people who are poor. This study examined attitudes toward poverty among baccalaureate nursing students (N = 740) at three Canadian universities. Students' attitudes were neutral to slightly positive. Personal experiences appeared to have an important influence on the development of favorable attitudes. The findings point to several considerations for nursing curricula. Students should not only be provided with classroom opportunities for critical exploration of poverty and its negative effects on individuals and society, but also have clinical learning experiences that bring them face-to-face with people who are poor, their health concerns, and the realities of their circumstances. Thoughtful critique of poverty-related issues and interpersonal contact may be effective strategies to foster attitude change.
Sword
Wendy
W
School of Nursing, HSc 3N25, Faculty Sciences, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5. sword@mcmaster.ca
Reutter
Linda
L
Meagher-Stewart
Donna
D
Rideout
Elizabeth
E
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000592:standards; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011203:Poverty / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013240:Stereotyping; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires