Differences in Psychological Indices Between Third and First Year Student Nurses PDF Download

Author: Barbara M. McIntosh
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Nursing students
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Two groups of student nurses varying in High School academic achievement and in nursing training were administered three group, paper and pencil tests designed to measure personality, intellectual, and inter¬ est variables. Three hypotheses were tested concerned respectively with differences between the two groups in 1) personality characteristics, 2) intellectual ability, and 3) ability to estimate their interest in the Nursing profession. The subjects consisted of the population of third year (N^= 110) and first year students (N]_= 124) in training in a three year diploma course at the Royal Alexandra Hospital School of Nursing in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada., during the 1962-63 academic year. The tests employed were the California Psychological Inventory, an abbreviated form of the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence scale Form 1, consisting of four Verbal subtests (referred to as V.I.C.S.) and the Strong Vocational Interest Blank. Hypothesis 1, which stated that third year students would score higher than the first year group on four scales of the C.P.I. (Re, (Responsibility) So, (Socialization) To, (Tolerance) Sc (Selfcontrol)), was only in part supported in that significant differences in the expected direction were found on the To and Sc scales but not on Re and So. On seven other C.P.I. scales, the third year students scored significantly higher than first year group. Part a, of Hypothesis 2, was not confirmed. It was predicted that the third year students would achieve a higher Verbal I.Q. score on the V.I.C.S than would the first year group. Analysis of the test results indicated the reverse to be true. Test results indicated support for Part b of hypothesis 2, in which it was predicted that the third year students would score higher on the Information subtest of the V.I.C.S. Hypothesis 3j which stated that the third year students would be better able to estimate their interest in the nursing profession than would the first year group, was supported by the test findings. In addition, ratings regarding overall proficiency and suit¬ ability, were obtained from nursing educators on staff, and comparisons were made, within each year, between nursing students rated "high" and those rated "low". Personality, intellectual and interest characteristics of the average third and first year student were described as well as the average "high" and "low" rated student within each year. Possible directions for further research were suggested.