Nursing students' professional image in the Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Nursing students' professional perceptions are affected by the environment they live in. Nursing students think that the nursing profession is important during the pandemic. Purpose: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the nursing students' professional image perceptions and the affecting factors during the Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey. Methods: The research population consisted of all nursing students (N = 750) of two universities in Turkey. The research data were collected using a personal information form and the Scale for the Image of Nursing Profession (SINP). Results: Of the students, 76.4% were not infected with Covid-19, 30.8% had an individual in their family infected with Covid-19; 34% had an immediate family member who died of Covid-19; 99.4% thought that the nursing profession is important during the Covid-19 pandemic. A statistically significant difference was found between the place where the students live and the SINP (p