A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

RESEARCH TOPIC:

Factors Influencing Student Choice Of Nursing As A Career In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

There has been recurring shortages of nurses all over the world, (Mckibbin 1990; Ledgister 2003). This is as a result of several factors which affect a nation’s capability to train and develop a competitive medical labor force. Several researchers on this topic have come up with these factors as postulated in several medical publications. Resolution HHA 42.27 (1992) of World Health urged member states to review their national nursing/midwifery policies. Interestingly, Henry et al, 1994 noted that women in countries where women’s education still leaves much to be desired are much likely to have an influence on their choice of nursing as a career. El-Gilany and Al-Wehady, (2001) noted that, traditionally, nursing has been an unacceptable career for most of the students. This, they argue is attributed to the general perception that nurses are of low social statuses compared to other careers in such areas as banking, insurance or even engineering. They concluded that these conditions hinder the entry of young Saudi women into the nursing career. They focussed on qualified nurses and on the city of Al-Hassa at the north region of Saudi Arabia, whereas the focus of this proposal is nursing student and on the city of Jeddah. It is paramount to embark upon career prospects in nursing in Saudi Arabia as a nation to encourage a broader base for recruiting into nursing. An investigation of the factors that influence students’ choice of nursing and their image of nursing as a career may help in determining changing trends and in addressing key affected areas. The result will impact positively in determining appropriate interventions to be undertaken in combating shortage of nurses on one hand and achieving a better balance of demand for nurses with supply.

1.2 Aims and objectives of the study

Explore the demographic characteristics of female Saudi nursing students enrolled in baccalaureate nursing programs in three medical universities at Jeddah

Determine the socio-cultural factors that influence female students’ choice of nursing as a career in Saudi Arabia.

Propose strategies to enhance enrolment of students into the nursing programmes

Hypothesis of the study

Saudi Arabia has had a history of persistent low enrolments in university nursing programs as a result of poor public image of nursing, low pay, poor working conditions, and long working hours..

Literature review

In most countries across the globe, nurses comprise the largest single group of human resources for health care, (Tafreshi, et al 2007). Despite their importance, and the fact that there are more practicing nurses than ever before, factors such as expanding opportunities for women, a widening scope of practice for nurses, higher acuity of patients and increasing technology have resulted in an acute shortage of nurses (MSU 2004). Louis and Mendez (1991) predicted that the nursing shortage is projected to worsen by the year 2000. Aiken, et al (2004) reported that indeed the shortage is persistent in USA and UK while Aldossary, et al (2008) noted the shortage still persist in Saudi Arabia. Goodin (2003) also reported that indeed the shortage persists in USA, and identified declining enrolment in the nursing program among other factors being responsible. Similarly, Hogan, et al (2007) identified decreased enrolment of nursing in Australia, Aboul-Enein, (2002) reported decreased enrolment of nursing in Saudi Arabia.

Over the years Saudi Arabia has had a history of persistent low enrolments in university nursing programs. Reasons cited for this low enrolment include poor public image of nursing, low pay, poor working conditions, and long working hours. In the Saudi Arabian context, shortage is viewed as a direct consequence of negative perception of the Saudis to the nursing profession, thus low enrolment, Aldossary, et al (2008). El-Gilany and Al-Wehady (2001) noted that traditionally, nursing has been an unacceptable career for Saudi nationals. It appears that the report of El-Gilany and Al-Wehady (2001) is consistent with that of Al-zayyer (2003). They all concluded that social factors hinder the entry of young Saudi women into nursing.

Jeddah is the second largest city after Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, with a population is of 3.4 million people and is considered the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia and the wealthiest city in the Middle East, (Jeddah 2008). Jeddah has the highest concentration of expatriates in Saudi Arabia and therefore the students’ populace in colleges and universities is multinational. Three nursing universities in Jeddah; Dar Alhekma College of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Medical and Allied Sciences and the Health Science College of Nursing have the highest student populace in Jeddah and shall therefore be the focus of this study. Undergraduates are the focus of this research because they constitute a significant sample population in Jeddah city.

The shortage of nurses will eventually have a serious impact on future nurse manpower supply in Saudi Arabia since the Kingdom is significantly dependent on expatriate nurses (Carty et al 2007). It is necessary to ensure that future supply of national nursing staff is sufficient to meet the country’s demand. It follows that, without some resolution to this issue, future Saudi national nurses may remain in short supply. From the foregoing, research on the career prospects in nursing in Saudi Arabia should be undertaken with a view to encouraging a broader base for recruitment into nursing. An investigation of the factors that influence student’s choice of nursing and their image of nursing as a career may help in determining changing trends and isolating problem areas. Therefore the findings of this study will add to the body of knowledge the factors that influence students’ choice of a career in nursing.

1.5 Research Scope

This research is exploratory in nature and it shall take the form of a survey. The study shall be limited to identifying how socio-cultural factors influence students’ choice of nursing bearing in mind that these factors differ in context. Socio-cultural factors shall be viewed from the context of image and gender issues in Saudi Arabia, as they affect choice of nursing as a career choice. Quantitative methods shall be applied in exploring the socio cultural issues related to nursing namely the nursing image, job characteristics, motivational factors, working condition, and professionalism. Research findings shall be analysed and results discussed. Limitations of the research shall also be highlighted and recommendations made.

1.6. Methodology

The proposal design is an exploratory survey, while the methodology is quantitative. Three universities in Jeddah, Dar Alhekma College of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Medical and Allied Sciences and the Health Science College of Nursing shall be used in the research.

About 800 third and fourth year students (because students usually withdraw in the first or second year) shall take part in this research, using random sampling technique. A self administer anonymous questionnaire shall be used to elicit response from the students. The objectives and ethical issues about the proposal shall be explained, their right to withdraw without giving any reason shall be guaranteed.

The questionnaire shall consist of two parts, with a total of 73 items grouped under demographics and five factors (nursing image, job characteristics, motivational factors, working condition, and professionalism). Because the questionnaire is scored using likert scale, the data shall be analysed using means and Pearson’s simple correlation to determine the correlation between various variables. I shall use t-test for comparison of means of two independent samples, and one-way analysis of variance for comparison of means of more than 2 groups.

The result shall be discussed and compared with results from other countries and in particular Scotland.

References:

Tafreshi, M., Pazargadi, M., Saeedi, Z (2007) Nurses’ perspectives on quality of nursing care: a qualitative study in Iran International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance Vol. 20 (4) pp320 – 328

(MSU 2004) The Future of the College of Nursing: A Roadmap for Growth Michigan State University available at HYPERLINK “http://nursing.msu.edu/downloads/2_d_Roadmap.doc. accessed on 17/08/08” http://nursing.msu.edu/downloads/2_d_Roadmap.doc. accessed on 17/08/08

(CCL 2005) Canadian Council on Learning available at HYPERLINK “https://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/ccl_question_scans/documents/1Enrolment_Patterns.pdf. accessed on 17/08/08” https://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/ccl_question_scans/documents/1Enrolment_Patterns.pdf. accessed on 17/08/08

Hogan, P., Moxham, L., Dwyer, T., (2007) Human resource management strategies for the retention of nurses in acute care settings in hospitals in Australia. Contemporary Nurse, Vol. 24 (2) pp 189-199

Faisal H Aboul-Enein (2002) Personal contemporary observations nursing care in Saudi Arabia International Journal of Nursing Practice Vol.8 pp 228–230

Goodin, H (2003) The nursing shortage in the United States of America: an integrative review of the literature Journal of Advanced Nursing Vol. 43, (4) pp

Aiken, L., Buchan, J., Sochalski, J., Nichols, B., and Powell, M (2004) Trends In International Nurse Migration Health Affairs Vol. 23 (3) pp 69-77

Aldossary, A, While, A., and Barriball, L. (2008) Health care and nursing in Saudi Arabia International Nursing Review Vol. 55 pp 125–128

Carty, R., Faan, R., Moss, M., Al-Zayyer, W., Kowitlawakul, Y., and Arietti, L (2007) Predictors of success for Saudi Arabian students enrolled in an accelerated baccalaureare degree program in nursing the United States. Journal of Professional Nursing, Vol. 23 (5) pp 301–308

(Jeddah 2008) Jeddah literature available at HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeddah#Education” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeddah#Education accessed on 23/08/08

Larsen, P., McGill, J., and Palmer, S (2003) Factors influencing career decisions: perspectives of nursing students in three types of programs, Journal of Nursing Education Vol.42 (4), pp. 168–173.

Henderson, M.,Hunt, D., and Williams, J (1996) General internists influence students to choose primary care careers: the power of role modeling, American Journal of Medicine Vol.101 (6) pp. 648–653.

El-Gilany, A and Al-Wehady, A (2001) Job satisfaction of female Saudi nurses Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal Vol.7 (1/2) pp 31-37

Hui-Ling, L., Tai-Chu, P., and Fwu-Mei., C (2006) Factors associated with career decision in Taiwanese nursing students: A questionnaire survey International Journal of Nursing Studies Vol. 43 (5) pp 581-588

Aboul-Enein, F (2002) Personal contemporary observations of nursing care in Saudi Arabia International Journal of Nursing Practice Vol. 8 (4), pp: 228 – 230