Abstract:

Introduction: Research assistants are close to half of the academic staff at University School of Nursing. It is noteworthy lack of research related to nursing research assistants in Turkey. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the profile of research assistants at state universities school of nursing in Turkey. Method: This is a description study in which data are collected from 159 research assistants working at eight schools of nursing, are state university, in Turkey. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews by questionnaire form created to search the literature and including 52 questions. SPSS 11.5 program was used for evaluation of data. The data was evulation with number- percent distribution, Kolmogorov Smirnov, One-Way ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis H and x2 analysis. Results: The average age of the research assistants was 29.6±3.20 and 52.2% were married. More than half of research assistants considered that their income was less than their expenditures. Research assistants mostly expected from the mentors their orientation (19.8%). 45% of the research assistants in school of nursing were composed of research assistants commissioned under item 35. Research assistants the most important qualities required to carry a person who research assistant, be able to analyze and synthesis, follow scientific developments and innovations, like to read and be curious. Research assistants spent "some" of their time to improve themselves in terms of their career, "most" of their time for affairs of their division and education-training facilities in their schools. The level of their satisfaction for working as research assistants was medium (5.90±2.30). The most problem of the research assistants is related to staff problem. Research assistants stated that 81.8% of their had not apply to orientation programs, 74.8% had trouble due to crowded offices. Conclusion It was that satisfaction of the research assistants is medium, and their most problem is staffing issues. It is suggested that expectations of research assistants in terms of personal development should be determined, physical facilities of the institution should be made suitable for employers and indefiniteness in job descriptions should be eliminated

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