Attitudes of nursing students at the University of Applied Health Sciences on nursing in Croatia

Sestrinstvo je danas priznata profesija koju nitko ne osporava. Moderno sestrinstvo favorizira edukaciju kao prioritet u profesionalnom životu medicinskih sestara. Više i visoko obrazovanje medicinskih sestara standard je u modernim državama. Uspješnost medicinske sestre ne ovisi samo o njezinoj humanosti i sposobnosti svladavanja suvremene tehnologije nego i o trajnoj edukaciji medicinskih sestara. Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je istražiti kakvi su stavovi i mišljenja studenata svih godina preddiplomskog studija sestrinstva o sestrinstvu, identitetu profesije, ulozi i položaju u zdravstvenom timu i obrazovanju, odnosno promjenama i mogućnostima u obrazovanju medicinskih sestara i tehničara u Republici Hrvatskoj. U istraživanju je sudjelovao ukupno 281 sudionik sa svih godina preddiplomskog studija sestrinstva. Najveći broj ispitanih, njih 87,19% (N = 245) u dobi je od 19 do 22 godine, prema očekivanju, veći je broj ispitanih osoba ženskog spola, njih 91,46% (N = 257), dok je u istraživanju sudjelovalo samo 8,54% (N = 24) ispitanika muškog spola. Dobiveni rezultati upućuju na veliku zainteresiranost za jačanje sestrinstva kao profesije te napredak sestrinstva k svjetlijoj i boljoj budućnosti u Republici Hrvatskoj.Nursing is nowadays a recognized profession that no one disputes. Modern nursing favors education as a priority in the professional life of nurses. Post-secondary and higher education of nurses is a standard in modern states. The success of a nurse depends not only on her humaneness and the ability to master modern technology, but also on the continuing education of nurses. The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes and opinions nursing students of all three years of the undergraduate study have on nursing, identity of the profession, role and position in the health care team and education, and changes and possibilities in the education of nurses in the Republic of Croatia. A total of 281 respondents from all three years of the undergraduate nursing study participated in the study. The highest number of participants, 87.19% (N = 245), are 19 to 22 years old. As expected there is a higher number of female respondents, 91.46% (N = 257), while only 8.54% (N = 24) of the male respondents participated in the research. The obtained results show a great interest in strengthening nursing as a profession and the advancement of nursing towards a brighter and better future in the Republic of Croatia