title: Factors influencing the choice of a nursing or a non-nursing degree: a multicenter, cross-sectional study.
abstract: Current literature has paid increasing attention to the factors influencing career decisions; nevertheless, few studies have compared candidates that have chosen a nursing versus a non-nursing degree. A multicenter, cross-sectional study design was performed to explore whether or not certain individual variables and having inaccurate data about nursing as a profession influenced the choice of a non-nursing degree. Six non-nursing and three nursing degree programs offered by two public Italian universities were involved. A total of 507 students who had just enrolled in non-nursing degree programs and 202 in nursing degree programs were invited to complete a questionnaire comprising 12 closed items. Overall, from 40.0% to 57.1% of the variation in choosing a degree other than nursing was explained by variables such as age, and having inaccurate data on the nursing profession. For each year over 19 years of age, the likelihood that the student would decide to enroll in a nursing degree program increases. For each wrong answer reported on the questionnaire evaluating knowledge on nursing profession, there was a reduction of approximately six times in the likelihood that the student would enroll in a nursing degree program. Information regarding the nursing profession should be offered in early stages of life; in addition, offering accurate data on the profession is a key factor in evaluating the congruence of the career with the individual's personal motivations, aspirations, and talents.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Trieste University, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dante
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Graceffa
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Bello
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rizzi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ianderca
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Battistella
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bulfone
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grando
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zuliani
authors.forename: Anica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casetta
authors.forename: Alvisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palese
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009729:Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Italian; career decision; cross-sectional study; factors; non-nursing degree; nursing degree