Kontakt 2010, 12(2):131-135 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2010.017

Factors affecting the choice of the first affiliation in general nursesNursing

Martina Koutná^1,*, Darja Jarošová²

¹ Fakultní nemocnice Ostrava, Klinika dětského lékařství

² Ostravská univerzita v Ostravě, Fakulta zdravotnických studií, Ústav ošetřovatelství a porodní asistence

The main target of the study presented here was mapping and description of factors affecting the choice of the first affiliation of nurses leaving the studies and comparison of the data acquired with results of foreign research. The first target was to evaluate and compare the development of preferences for particular working sites in students.
The sample group included 63 students of the last year of full-time study branch General Nurse at Ostrava University in Ostrava and branch Registered General Nurse at SZŠ and VOŠZ Ostrava. Quantitative examination was implemented in March 2009 with the use of a standardized questionnaire by R. Whittle.
Among nurses leaving the studies, surgical, paediatric and internal departments were of top interest. The less preferred working sites included departments of subsequent and palliative care and psychiatric departments. The preference for the working sites remained almost unaltered in the course of the studies. The factors most significantly affecting the choice of the first affiliation included personal good experience with the working site chosen, interest in a certain field of nursing, possibility of further education and professional development. The choice of the first affiliation was not affected by any feedback and recommendation from other students or negative experience of students with particular working sites.
The results of the examination demonstrated that students of nursing have certain expectations concerning their future working site, which is affected by several factors. Understanding requirements of new qualified nurses concerning the future working sites can help medical institutions to make the work of nurses at less preferred working sites more attractive and motivate new nurses leaving the school.

Keywords: students; general nurse; first affiliation; factors of the choice; questionnaire examination

Received: February 8, 2010; Accepted: March 26, 2010; Prepublished online: June 14, 2010; Published: June 14, 2012  Show citation