title: Polish medical students' perceptions of the nursing profession: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: This study explored perceptions of the nursing profession held by medical students in Poland. Specifically, this study aimed to: (i) elicit medical students' opinions about the nursing profession; (ii) identify what skills and abilities they perceive as important for nurses and (iii) ascertain what nursing functions are considered a major component of the nurse's job. A cross-sectional study, based on the social construct of role theory, was conducted in medical universities from 2005 to 2006 in three cities situated in different regions of Poland: Białystok, Bydgoszcz and Kraków. A total of 900 medical students, 300 students in each region, in medical school years 1, 3 and 6 completed the Professional Nursing Image Survey. The most favourable nurse characteristics were: 'professional reliability', 'demonstration of good technical skills' and the personal characteristics of friendliness and courteousness. Medication administration, recording vital signs and administering intravenous therapy were most frequently identified as a major part of the nurses' role. In conclusion, the opinions of Polish medical students suggest that nursing therapeutic activities trump independent nursing practice activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Nursing, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland. ludmila.marcinowicz@amb.edu.pl
authors.forename: Ludmiła
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marcinowicz
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zarzycka
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chlabicz
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Windak
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Buczkowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009729:Nursing; D011044:Poland; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*