| Learning Objective #1: Identify positive and negative factors which influence the image of nurses in Korea | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Establish strategies for positive self-esteem and professional image of nurses to facilitate professional socialization |
Purpose: To exam the varying degree of socialization according to the image of nurses and to identify the factors influencing the image of nurses among senior nursing students in Seoul, Korea.
Method: A descriptive correlational study was performed and data was analysed with SPSS-PC Win (version 10.0). Professional socialization was measured with the Professional Socialization Scale (52 items, 7-Likert scale) and the image of nurses was measured with Image of Nurses Scale (20 items, 5-Likert scale) which consisted of two subcategories: traditional image and professional image. The factors influencing the image of nurses were measured with a semi-structured questionnaire (8 items). A total of 135 nursing students from a junior college participated.
Result: The score of traditional image of nurses (M=27.60, SD=4.24) was relatively low compare to the score of professional image of nurses (M=41.05, SD=4.32). Two subcategories of the image of nurses were statistically significant with professional socialization. Professional image was correlated highly (r=.451, p=.000) rather than the traditional image (r=.239, p=.005). Factors that positively influenced the professional image were job satisfaction, motive for entrance to nursing college, and self-esteem. The factors that influenced the traditional image were personal and familial experience, the images of nurses in the media like TV and movies. However the traditional image of nurses reflected negative images of the public, associated with femininity and powerlessness.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the focus of nursing education has to shift from traditional values and personality traits to a professional-oriented value system. Also results indicate the importance of encouraging professional socialization and cultivation of positive, personal self-esteem toward the negative influences of the public image of nurses for nursing students through establishing a strong and clear nursing identity.
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