[Motivation and expectations of graduate nursing students at the university of Padova].

The correct planning of a educational university process requires the knowledge of students' motivations, aspirations and socio-cultural profile. The aim of this study is to describe the students of University of Padua Nursing school recently enrolled during the academic year 1998/99, focusing on the motivations of their choice and the expectations on the university course. The data were collected through a questionnaire on 50 different questions concerning: age, sex, address, previous school experience, professional aspirations, problems in learning and following the course of the study, influence of advertising in choosing the school, ideal and concept of the role of nurse, expectation on the University course, knowledge on the didactic plan and future job availability. The study investigated 195 (84 from Padua, 54 from Treviso and 49 from Feltre, side branches) students. Out of 195 tests, 85.5% were females averaging 21.1 years and 14.4 were males averaging 22.5 years. Mean high school degree score was 42.8 (valid score from 36 to 60). 50.6% of the students are resident in the school site (main site or side branches) of the school. 85.5% of the students are living with theirs parents. The choice of the school was principally due to: future job availability (95%), humanitarian reasons (94%), scientific interest (87%), social consideration (85%). The study activities were the students' most frequent expected difficulty. The choose of the course of study was influenced by: parents suggestion (39%), friends suggestion (28%), advertisement and conferences in the high school (21%), papers (18%). Very important factor was found previous voluntary sanitary experiences.