SavedAdd your journal

Journals / CURARE Journal of Nursing / 2026 / Sayı: 8

Attitudes of Nursing Students, Nurses and Public Towards to Nursing Profession and Associated Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nesrin İlhan(Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, İstanbul Medeniyet University)0000-0002-3926-4308
Özcan Erdoğan(Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University)0000-0002-4387-6016
Burcu Demircan(Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University)0000-0001-6317-4604
Yasemin Adıgüzel Yaşar(Department of Nursing, Faculty of Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa/Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Istanbul University)0000-0001-5012-7809
Yasemin Kıyak Yorulmaz(Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University)0000-0002-5782-6781
Türkinaz Aştı(Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University)0000-0002-9127-7798
Pages
41–51
Publication Date
2025-07-11
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicated that nursing students exhibited significantly more positive attitudes towards the profession compared to nurses, who in turn held more favourable views than public members (p<0.001).

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of nursing students, nurses, and members of the public towards the nursing profession during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify factors associated with these attitudes.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Methods: The study was conducted online between August and December 2020.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicated that nursing students exhibited significantly more positive attitudes towards the profession compared to nurses, who in turn held more favourable views than public members (p<0.001).
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2020 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Nursing profession · attitude · nursing student

Abstract

Objective: This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of nursing students, nurses, and members of the public towards the nursing profession during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify factors associated with these attitudes. Methods: The study was conducted online between August and December 2020. The sample consisted of 356 nursing students, 323 nurses, and 304 public participants. Data were collected using the Attitude Scale for Nursing Profession (ASNP). Data was analysed through descriptive statistics, Student’s t-test, one way ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The mean ASNP score was 166.80±13.11 for nursing students, 161.54±14.33 for nurses and 158.15±17.75 for the public. The findings indicated that nursing students exhibited significantly more positive attitudes towards the profession compared to nurses, who in turn held more favourable views than public members (p<0.001). Among nursing students, variables such as voluntarily choosing the nursing department, perceiving an increase in the value of nursing during the pandemic, type of university attended, and family support during career selection were significantly associated with their attitudes (R²=0.215, p<0.001). For nurses, attitudes were significantly influenced by pandemicrelated stigma, gender, reduced motivation to work, considerations of resignation, fear of transmitting the virus to family members, and educational attainment (R²=0.130, p<0.001). In the public group, gender, improved perception of the nursing profession post-pandemic, and having a family member diagnosed with COVID-19 were significant predictors of attitudes (R²=0.128, p<0.001). Conclusion: Enhancing public attitudes towards the nursing profession may be achieved by disseminating accurate information regarding nurses’ educational background, professional roles, and contributions to healthcare through mass media, thereby increasing their visibility and societal recognition.

🔖

Cite This Article

İlhan, N., Erdoğan, Ö., Demircan, B., Yaşar, Y. A., Yorulmaz, Y. K., Aştı, T. (2025). Attitudes of Nursing Students, Nurses and Public Towards to Nursing Profession and Associated Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study. CURARE Journal of Nursing, Sayı: 8, 41–51. https://doi.org/10.26650/CURARE.2025.1665145

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (52)

  1. 1 World Health Organization (WHO). Coronavirus disease (COVİD-19). https:// www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1 google scholar
  2. 2 El-Hage W, HingraY C, Lemogne C, Yrondi A, Brunault P, Bienvenu T et al. Health professionals facing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVİD-19) pandemic: What are the mental health risks?. Encephale. 2020;46(3S):S73-S80. doi: 10.1016/ j.encep.2020.04.008 google scholar
  3. 3 Zhang Z, Fu W, Tian C, Zhang F, Zhao B, Mao J, et al. Professional identitY of Chinese nursing students during the COVİD-19 pandemic outbreak: A nationwide cross-sectional studY. Nurse Educ Pract. 2021;52:103040. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103040 google scholar
  4. 4 Sarboozi Hoseinabadi T, Kakhki S, Teimori G, NaYYeri S. Burnout and its google scholar
  5. 5 influencing factors between frontline nurses and nurses from other wards during the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease -COVİD-19- in İran. İnvest Educ Enferm. 2020;38(2):e3. doi:10.17533/udea.iee.v38n2e03 google scholar
  6. 6 Stelnicki AM, Carleton RN, Reichert C. Nurses' mental health and well-being: COVİD-19 İmpacts. Can J Nurs Res. 2020;52(3):237-239. doi:10.1177/0844562120931623 google scholar
  7. 7 Lai J, Ma S, Wang Y, Cai Z, Hu J, Wei N., et al. Factors associated with mental health outcomes among health care workers exposed to coronavirus disease 2019. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(3):e203976. doi:10.1001/jamanetwork open.2020.3976. google scholar
  8. 8 Luo Y, Feng X, Zheng M, Zhang D, Xiao H, Li N. Willingness to participate in frontline work during the COVİD-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional studY of nurses from a province in South-West China. J Nurs Manag. 2021;29(6):1356-1365. doi: 10.1111/jonm.13309 google scholar
  9. 9 Adhikari, S. P., Rawal, N., Shrestha, D. B., Budhathoki, P., Banmala, S., Awal, S., et al. Prevalence of anxietY, depression, and perceived stigma in healthcare workers in Nepal during later phase of first wave of COVİD-19 pandemic: A web-based cross-sectional survey. Cureus. 2021;13(6):e16037. doi: 10.7759/ cureus.16037 google scholar
  10. 10 Labrague LJ, De Los Santos JAA, Fronda DC. Perceived COVID-19-associated discrimination, mental health and professional-turnover intention among frontline clinical nurses: The mediating role of resilience. Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2021;30(6):1674-1683. doi:10.1111/inm.12920 google scholar
  11. 11 Wu Wu, B., Zhao, Y., Xu, D., Wang, Y., Niu, N., Zhang, M., et al. Factors associated with nurses' willingness to participate in care of patients with COVID-19: A survey in China. J Nurs Manag. 2020;28(7):1704-1712. doi: 10.1111/jonm.13126 google scholar
  12. 12 Ateş T, Önal B, Çolak Z, Öztürk H. The examination of newspaper news on health workers in the context of COVID-19. University of Health Sciences Journal of Nursing. 2021;3(2):67-76. google scholar
  13. 13 Godsey JA, Houghton DM, Hayes T. Registered nurse perceptions of factors contributing to the inconsistent brand image of the nursing profession. Nurs Outlook. 2020;68(6):808-821. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2020.06.005 google scholar
  14. 14 van der Cingel M, Brouwer J. What makes a nurse today? A debate on the nursing professional identity and its need for change.Nurs Philos. 2021;22(2):e12343. doi:10.1111/nup.12343 google scholar
  15. 15 ten Hoeve Y, Jansen G, Roodbol P. The nursing profession: public image, self-concept and professional identity. A discussion paper. J Adv Nurs. 2014;70(2):295-309. doi:10.1111/jan.12177 google scholar
  16. 16 McGillis Hall L, Kashin J. Public understanding of the role of nurses during Ebola. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2016;48(1):91-97. doi:10.1111/jnu.12182 google scholar
  17. 17 Koushali AN, Hajiamini Z, Ebadi A. Comparison of nursing students' and clinical nurses' attitude toward the nursing profession. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2012;17(5):375-380. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3703079/ google scholar
  18. 18 Adibelli D, Kirca N, Karadağ A. Do the nurses’ attitudes towards the nursing profession affect individual innovativeness? Arch Health Sci Res. 2020;7(1):28-35. doi: 10.5152/ArcHealthSciRes.2020.585935 google scholar
  19. 19 Çelik AS, Pasinlioğlu T, Kocabeyoğlu T, Çetin S. Determination of the image of nursing profession in community. Florence Nightingale J Nurs. 2013;21(3):147-153. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/95103 google scholar
  20. 20 Şimşek AK, Alpar ŞE. Image perception of the society for nursing profession: Systematic review. Sakarya University Holistic Health Journal. 2019;2(1);32-46. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/721043 google scholar
  21. 21 Ersan Yaman H, Basaran-Acil S, Duygulu S. The positioning of nursing in Turkish mass media: Before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Int Nurs Rev. 2024;71(4):747-757. doi:10.1111/inr.12909 google scholar
  22. 22 Nie S, Sun C, Wang L, Wang X. The professional identity of nursing students and their intention to leave the nursing profession during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. J Nurs Res. 2021;29(2):e139. doi: 10.1097/ jnr.0000000000000424 google scholar
  23. 23 Gallup Data, 2025. Americans' Ratings of U.S. Professions Stay Historically Low. https://news.gallup.com/poll/655106/americans-ratingsprofe ssions-stay-historically-low.aspx google scholar
  24. 24 Abuhammad S, AlAzzam M, Mukattash T. The perception of nurses towards their roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Clin Pract. 2021;75(4):e13919. doi:10.1111/ijcp.13919 google scholar
  25. 25 Li Z, Zuo Q, Cheng J, et al. Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic promotes the sense of professional identity among nurses. Nurs Outlook. 2021;69(3):389-398. google scholar
  26. 26 Taş AS, Dalcalı BK. Motivation of nursing students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Acıbadem University Journal of Health Sciences. 2021;12(2):418-424. http://journal.acibadem.edu.tr/en/download/article-file/1482686 google scholar
  27. 27 Esin, N. Sampling. In S. Erdoğan, N. Nahcivan, & M. N. Esin (Eds.), Research in Nursing: Process, Application, and Critique. (pp. 167-186). Nobel Tıp Kitabevi. 2014 google scholar
  28. 28 Stetson GV, Kryzhanovskaya IV, Lomen-Hoerth C, Hauer KE. Professional identity formation in disorienting times. Med Educ. 2020;54(8):765-766. doi: 10.1111/ medu.14202 google scholar
  29. 29 Coban GI, Kasikci M. Development of the Attitude Scale for Nursing Profession. Int J Nurs Pract. 2011;17(5):518-524. doi:10.1111/j.1440-172 X.2011.01961 google scholar
  30. 30 Canet-Velez O, Botigue T, Lavedân Santamarıa A, Masot O, Cemeli T, Roca J. The perception of training and professional development according to nursing students as health workers during COVID-19: A qualitative study. Nurse Educ Pract. 2021;53:103072. doi:10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103072 google scholar
  31. 31 Jamdar K. Attitude of students towards nursing profession during the COVID pandemic. UGC Care Journal. 2020;31(37):347-352. google scholar
  32. 32 Lovric R, Farcic N, Miksic S, VCev A. Studying during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative inductive content analysis of nursing students’ perceptions and experiences. Education Sciences. 2020;10(7):188. doi: 10.3390/educsci10070188 google scholar
  33. 33 Gimenez-Espert MDC, Prado-Gasco V, Soto-Rubio A. Psychosocial risks, work engagement, and job satisfaction of nurses during COVID-19 pandemic. Front Public Health. 2020;8:566896. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.566896 google scholar
  34. 34 Lasiter S, McLennon SM. Nursing professional capital: a qualitative analysis. J Nurs Adm. 2015;45(2):107-112. doi:10.1097/NNA.0000000000000164 google scholar
  35. 35 Lafçi KT. An assessment of difficulties of young people in choosing a job. Use International Journal of Sociology and Economics. 2018;(1):97-120. https:// dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1174877 google scholar
  36. 36 Mooney M, Glacken M, O'Brien F. Choosing nursing as a career: a qualitative study. Nurse Educ Today. 2008;28(3):385-392. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2007.07.006 google scholar
  37. 37 Eman T, Cowman S. Edgar A. A triangulation study: Bahraini nursing students' perceptions of nursing as a career. J Nurs Educ Pract. 2012;2(3):81-92. doi:10.5430/jnep.v2n3p81 google scholar
  38. 38 Güven ŞD. Determination of senior high school students' attitudes towards the nursing profession: Example of Nevşehir province. Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory. 2019;10(1): 6-11. doi:10.18663/tjcl.324101 google scholar
  39. 39 Işık E, Kanbay Y, Aslan Ö. Factors influencing the career choice of nursing students. GSTF Journal of Nursing and Health Care (JNHC). 2015;2(2):49-52. doi:10.7603/s40743-015-0019-1 google scholar
  40. 40 Özveren H, Gülnar E, Özden D. Determination of the factors that affect the choice of career of the nursing students. Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory. 2017;8(2): 57-64. google scholar
  41. 41 Vabo G, Slettebd A, Fossum M. Nursing students’ professional identity development: An integrative review. Nord J Nurs Res. 2021;0(0):1-14. doi: 10.1177/20571585211029857 google scholar
  42. 42 Ndou NP, Moloko-Phiri SS. Four-year diploma male students' experiences in a profession traditionally perceived as a female domain at a selected public college of nursing in Limpopo, South Africa. Curationis. 2018;41(1):e1-e6. https:// hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-12123d3889 google scholar
  43. 43 Zeren F. Köşgeroğlu N. Reflections of gender inequality on nursing profession. Gümüşhane University Journal of Health Sciences. 2020;9(3):293-299. doi:10.37989/gumussagbil.734808 google scholar
  44. 44 Karaman F, Çakmak S, Yerebakan AN. Professional image perceptions of nursing students and determining affecting factors. İstanbul Gelişim University Journal of Health Sciences. 2020;(11):217-229. doi:10.38079/igusabder.674554 google scholar
  45. 45 Uyanık G, Dağhan Ş, Rukiye A, Sözeri M. Examination of the profession perceptions and academic motivations of nursing students according to the characteristics of Y generation. Balıkesir Journal of Health Sciences. 2020;9(3):139-148. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/814613 google scholar
  46. 46 Akan DD, Şahin CK, Doğan ES, Yıldız S, Göktaş G, Pakyüz SÇ. Investigation of the relationship between nursing students' perceptions about nursing image and academic motivations. Journal of Inonu University Health Services Vocational School. 2021; 9(1):362-373. doi:10.33715/inonusaglik.794807 google scholar
  47. 47 Gonzâlez-Gil MT, Gonzâlez-Blâzquez C, Parro-Moreno AI, et al. Nurses' perceptions and demands regarding COVID-19 care delivery in critical care units and hospital emergency services. Intensive Crit Care Nurs. 2021;62:102966. doi:10.1016/j.iccn.2020.102966 google scholar
  48. 48 Ministry of Health General Directorate of Management Services, 2020. https:// www.memurlar.net/haber/934673/saglik-personelinin-istifa-emeklilik-ve-izint aleplerine-sinirlama.html google scholar
  49. 49 Aloğlu N, Gecdi T. Investigation of the emotions of health personnel during the pandemic process in terms of some variables. Gevher Nesibe Journal of Medical & Health Sciences. 2021;6(12):29-39. doi:10.46648/gnj.196 google scholar
  50. 50 Cai H, Tu B, Ma J, et al. Psychological Impact and Coping Strategies of Frontline Medical Staff in Hunan Between January and March 2020 During the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hubei, China. Med Sci Moni. 2020;26:e924171. doi:10.12659/MSM.924171 google scholar
  51. 51 Midilli TS, Kirmizioglu T, Kalkim A. Affecting factors and relationship between patients' attitudes towards the nursing profession and perceptions of nursing care in a university hospital. J Pak Med Assoc. 2017;67(7):1059-1064. google scholar
  52. 52 Ministry of Health, 2022. Turkey Weekly COVID-19 Chart (01-07 January, 2022). https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/ google scholar