Assessment of Professional Self-Concept of Nursing Students in Enugu State

ABSTRACT The study assessed the professional self-concept of nursing students in Enugu State. This research specifically assessed the student nurses view of themselves as professional nurses to-be, the professional self-concept of nursing students in their different schools of nursing, the level of professional self-concept of nursing students, professional self-concept had by nursing students in university and hospital-based training, the professional self-concept of male and female nursing students in hospital and university-based programme and the influence of age, sex and type of education on professional self-concept. A cross sectional descriptive survey design was adopted for the study which permits the observation, description and documentation of aspects of a situation as it naturally occurred. The sample size of 451 nursing students was purposively chosen for the study. Data were collected using adapted and validated 36 item standardized professional self-concept of Nurses instrument (PSCNI) and the researcher developed questionnaire on demographic characteristics of the instrument. Data analysis was done using frequency counts, simple percentages, means and standard deviation for research objectives while t-test with cut-off point of 4.50 and ANOVA were employed in testing the three null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that the students generally have positive professional self-concept (mean score above 4.50 and p > 0.05). There is significant difference in the professional self-concept of student nurses in the university and hospital-based nursing students (p < 0.05) only in the caring subscale. Female nursing students have more positive professional self-concept than males (p < 0.05). Professional self-concept is influenced by age, sex (p < 0.05) but it is not influenced by type of education (p > 0.05). In conclusion, student nurses in Enugu State have significant high professional self-concept. The need to provide students with a more positive environment that is stimulating to help empower them especially the males.