Changes in the Image of Nursing in First Year Nursing Students after History & Philosophy of Nursing Courses

Kim, Sang Dol

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to investigate changes in image of nursing in first year students of nursing after courses on history & philosophy of nursing.
METHODS
Participants were 100 first year students at a nursing college located in K city. The students were asked to submit a written answer to an open-ended question. Data were collected in March, 2011, before the students started nursing courses, and again in June, 2011, after they had finished one semester of nursing courses. Data were analyzed using Van Kaam's phenomenological method.
RESULTS
Before the nursing courses, students regarded nursing as caring for patients comfortably with warmth and kindness, helping patients with self-sacrificing spirit and service, and being tough and overwhelming to do. After finishing one semester of nursing courses, they regarded nursing as a profession that requires motherly care, love and devotion, and as meaningful and beautiful to do.
CONCLUSIONS
After finishing one semester of nursing courses, the images of nursing held by the students changed from a traditional perspective emphasizing the emotional and negative aspects to one focusing more on the professional and positive aspects. It is essential to establish healthy and positive images of nursing among students through the nursing curriculum.