Evaluation of professional self-concept and its relationship factors: A study among nursing students in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2021
Abstract
Professional self-concept (PSC) is an important issue concerning the nursing profession and is reflected as the key concept in nursing professionalism. Although previous studies investigated this concept and its related factors among nursing students, their results showed no consensus. Objectives: This study aimed to assess PSCs among senior nursing students and examine their relationship with gender and Grade Point Average (GPA). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 157 nursing students selected by a convenience sampling among senior nursing students in the seventh semester in January 2020 at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. The data were collected using Cowin's 36-item Nursing Professional Self-Concept questionnaire, which measures nursing self-concept in six dimensions. Results: Undergraduate nursing students were 22-24 years old (22.58 +/- 98). Moreover, two-thirds of the students were female (66%) and married (71%). The nursing students reported a total mean score of PSC to be 161.1 +/- 3.27. The highest mean score of the PSC dimensions belonged to communication (27.7 +/- 1.17), and the lowest mean score was observed for self-esteem (25.52 +/- 1.06). In addition, there was no significant difference among gender, total PSC, and its dimensions, and there was no relationship with GPA, except for the staff relations (r=0.198, P<0.05) and leadership (r=-0.210, P<0.05), which showed a negative and significant correlation; however, the correlation coefficients were not strong (P<0.3). Conclusion: Due to a moderate level of total PSC and the lowest dimensions in self-esteem among nursing students, it is recommended that nursing students' PSC and its dimensions, specifically in self-esteem, be taken into account, which can boost their nursing professionalism.
Keywords
Iran, Nursing students, Professional self-concept
Divisions
fac_med
Funders
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran[990345]
Publication Title
Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal
Volume
23
Issue
12
Publisher
Zamensalamati Publ Co