Specialty satisfaction, positive psychological capital, and nursing professional values in nursing students: A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND

Ideally, college majors should be chosen to achieve self-realization and correspond to self-concept. However, some students select a major based on extrinsic factors, rather than aptitude or interests, because of a lack of employment opportunities. If they have negative college experiences with an unsatisfactory major, they might not engage fully in their occupation following graduation.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify factors affecting specialty satisfaction in preclinical practice nursing-college students.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional descriptive survey.

SETTING

A nonprobability convenience sample of 312 nursing-college students at colleges in Deajeon City, South Korea. The survey questionnaire was distributed to those who agreed to participate.

PARTICIPANTS

Freshmen and sophomore nursing students (n=312).

METHODS

Participants were 312 students at colleges in Deajeon City. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, which were analyzed using SPSS/WIN.

RESULTS

Positive psychological capital and nursing professional values were positively correlated with specialty satisfaction. Significant predictors for specialty satisfaction included hope and optimism (as components of positive psychological capital), the roles of nursing service and originality of nursing (as nursing professional values), and aptitude/interests and job value (as motives for selecting a major).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggested that nursing students' specialty satisfaction was partially linked to positive psychological capital and professional values. Therefore, the promotion of positive factors should be useful in enhancing specialty satisfaction in preclinical-practice nursing-college students.