J Korean Acad Nurs Adm.  2022 Sep;28(4):371-381. 10.11111/jkana.2022.28.4.371.

The Effects of Nursing Students' Perception of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Ethical Awareness, and Nurse Image on Career Identity in a Pandemic Situation

• Koo SM
• Jang YM
• Kang MH

• KMID: 2536046
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2022.28.4.371

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of nursing students' perception of emerging infectious disease, ethical awareness and nurse image on their career identity in a pandemic situation.
Methods
Data were collected from 247 nursing students within universities of Daejeon, Gimcheon and Yeongdong area from May 18 to June 20, 2020. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression analysis.
Results
The subjects of this study had high level of perception of novel infectious disease (3.72±0.43), ethical awareness in pandemic situations (4.06±0.48), and nurse image (4.07±0.49), but low level of career identity (1.99±0.51). Career identify was significantly correlated with perception of novel infectious disease (r=.18, p=.005), ethical awareness in pandemic situation (r=.16, p=.011), and nurse image (r=.32, p<.001). However, excluding grade and residential area among the general characteristics, only the nurse image (β=.35, p<.001) was identified as a factor influencing career identity, and the explanatory power was 13.1%.
Conclusion
To increase the career identity of nursing students, it is necessary to raise professional nurses’ social awareness and develop a positive nurse image.

Keyword

Nurses; Communicable diseases; Emerging; Ethics; Nursing; Awareness; Career choice