Background: Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare sector and are fundamental in the delivery of quality care. The perception and image of both nurses and nursing as a profession are vital in the successful recruitment and retention of staff in the health care industry.
Objective: To study the perception and aspirations of B.Sc. final year nursing students towards their professional life.
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Urban Health Care and training Center Shahaganj, Aurangabad. A total 70 B.Sc. final year nursing students were interviewed through self-administered questionnaire containing three major parts: the first part is the socio-demographic characteristics; the second part is perception of nursing profession; the third part is aspirations of nursing students.
Results: Approximately 80% of studentsÂ’ source of awareness was from nearly people, i.e., parents, relatives, and friends. And most (85%) of students were interested in their field. Most of the students choose this field mainly because of more job opportunities. The other significant reason to choose this field is their own interest in health care system and also their passion to serve the community. Majority (81.4%) of the students preferred the urban area while there was a small group (18.6%) of students even willing to work in the rural area. Majority of the students feel that both males and females are equally compassionate and dedicated to nursing profession. Maximum students want to be a doctor if they had opportunity but the majority of students (85.7%) were satisfied.
Conclusion: The perception of nursing profession among nursing students is changing towards positive side. The guidance by family and friends were important factors in joining nursing profession. Providing more career opportunities and projecting the nursing profession as a respectable and high demanding profession will help to boost admission and improve perceptions further.
Key words: Nursing, perception, aspiration, professional life
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