Interest in nursing among academic degree holders in Israel: A cross-sectional quantitative study

• Having been cared for by a nurse was associated with a more positive perception of nursing.
• A more positive perception of nurses was associated with a higher interest in nursing.
• One's perception of nurses and interest in nursing varied depending on one's sociodemographics.

SummaryBackgroundThe shortage of nurses is a global problem. One strategy for producing more registered nurses worldwide and in Israel in particular is to offer graduate entry nursing programs for individuals with non-nursing academic degrees. In order to recruit academic degree holders into the nursing profession, it is important to identify factors that might attract them.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to explore whether the perception of nurse characteristics by academic degree holders is associated with their interest in enrolling in a graduate entry nursing program or in recommending this program to a family member, and whether ethnic background, gender and interaction with a nurse have an effect on this interest.DesignA cross-sectional quantitative study.SettingsThe setting of the study was on the campus of Tel Aviv University.ParticipantsA convenience sample of 522 individuals with an academic education, men and women, aged 18-60 and equally distributed between Jewish and Arab Israelis, took part in the study.MethodsParticipants completed a questionnaire based on the Porter Nursing Image Scale.ResultsA moderate positive correlation was found between perception of nurses and interest in nursing (r = 0.32, p < 0.01). Arab Israelis, women, and individuals who have or have had interactions with nurses, viewed nurses in a more positive light and had a higher interest in nursing than their counterparts.ConclusionsEfforts should be made to foster a positive public image of nursing among the population of people with an academic education. Recruitment strategies should be tailored to each of this population's subgroups.