Abstract:

Aim: This study is carried out in order to determine the image of Nursing Profession in community.Method: This descriptive research's environment is 65.000 individuals who are over or at the age of 18, living in the service area of 3 Family Health Center in Erzurum city center. In choosing sampling, the formula which is applied in the situations when individual number is known in the environment, is used; the sampling number is determined to be 634. In the process of gathering data, "Survey Form" and "Nursing Image Scale" is used. The scale is made of 28 items including individuals' views on the image of nursing profession. The scale has 3 sub-dimensions named as "General View", "Communication", and "Professional and Educational Qualifications". Increase in total point means that nursing image is positive.Results: The average age of the individuals attended the study is 34.26±11.85. 54.9% of individuals is female while 45% is male. 68.2% of participants has high school or a higher education; 62.9% has a nurse in his/her family. It is determined that the difference between total point average and scale sub-dimensions according to a nurse family member and profession of individuals is significant (p<0.05, p<0.001). Individuals' "General View" sub-dimension average point is 10.82±2.25, "Communication" sub-dimension average point is 10.55±2.88, "Professional and Educational Qualifications" sub-dimension average point is 27.19±5.49, and scale total point average is 48.57±8.51. Conclusion: It is determined that the image of the Nursing profession on individuals participated in the study is medium-level positive. It is also found in the study that individuals who are self-employment and who have a nursing family member have a higher positive level of nursing image.

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