Abstract:
The study was set out to investigate perception and preference of nursing profession among selected senior secondary schools science stream male students in Kafanchan metropolis. A descriptive survey research design was used. A convenient sampling technique was used in selecting the senior secondary schools while simple random technique was used in drawing a sample population of 186 respondents from a target population of 360 male science students. A four-sector structured questionnaire adopted from Alexander (2010) and adapted to the study setting based on the study aim, was used for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was tested using Cronbach’s alpha and a value of 0.7 was obtained which showed that it is reliable. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Stated hypotheses were tested using IBM SPSS version 20. Findings revealed that respondents demonstrated moderately positive perception about nurses and nursing at overall mean score of 3.32 (table 2). Findings regarding career choice of respondents showed that despite the positive outlook on nurses and nursing, only but 5.5% (9) chose nursing while majority of respondents chose a wide variety of other careers topmost were Engineering and Medicine (fig.1). The findings also revealed that factors in table were all perceived as important career choice motivating factors in the respondents’ career decision taking into consideration the overall mean score of 3.62. Hypotheses tested using one-way ANOVA at 5% level of significance showed a significant relationship between levels of study and perception about nurses and nursing at (Fcal=1.51; Ftab=3.00; df=2,160; p<0.05); significant relationship between perception and career choice at (Fcal=0.77; Ftab=1.38; df=33,129; p<0.05). It was recommended among others that Stake holders in Nursing education and practice should critically examine the top-ranking motivating factors of an ideal career with the view of upgrading the profession in fulfilling those factors to attract more male potential
entrants.
