The Attitudes of Nursing Students Towards Public Health Nursing and Professional Image

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of nursing students towards public health nursing and professional image and to examine the relationship between the two attitudes. Methods: This descriptive-relational study was conducted with nursing students of a university (n=49). The data were collected using the participants' Personal and Lesson Information Form, the Public Health Nursing Lesson Attitude Scale, and the Nursing Image Scale based on self-report using the online method after completing the public health nursing course. Results: The mean age of the students participating in the study was 21.53±1.27 and 71.4% were female. The students scored 2.50±0.99 points from the Theory Subscale of the Public Health Nursing Lesson Attitude Scale, 2.64±1.06 points from the Practice Subscale, and 72.95±7.64 points from the Nursing Image Scale. A significant positive correlation was found between students' Public Health Nursing Lesson Attitude Scale Theory and Practice Sub-dimension scores and Nursing Image Scale total, General Appearance Sub-dimension and Professional and Educational Qualifications Sub-dimension scores (p≤0.05). Conclusion: In the study, it was determined that nursing students' attitudes towards the course were moderate, attitudes towards the image of nursing were high and there was a moderate positive relationship between both attitudes.