A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Graduating Nursing Students’ Empowerment and Related Factors: Comparative Study in Six European Countries




AuthorsVisiers-Jiménez Laura, Kuokkanen Liisa, Leino-Kilpi-Helena, Löyttyniemi Eliisa, Turjamaa Riitta, Brugnolli Anna, Gaspar Filomena, Nemcová Jana, Palese Alvisa, Rua Marília, Zelenikova Renata, Kajander-Unkuri Satu

PublisherMDPI

Publishing placeBasel

Publication year2022

JournalHealthcare

Article number754

Volume10

Issue5

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10050754

Web address https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10050754

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/174832377


Abstract

New nurses are needed in healthcare. To meet the role expectations of a registered nurse, nursing students must feel empowered at graduation. However, there are only a few studies focusing on nursing students’ empowerment. This study aims to describe and analyze graduating nursing students’ level of empowerment in six European countries and potential related factors. A comparative and cross-sectional study was performed in the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain with graduating nursing students (n = 1746) using the Essential Elements of Nurse Empowerment scale. Potentially related factors included age, gender, a previous degree in health care, work experience in health care, graduation to first-choice profession, intention to leave the nursing profession, level of study achievements, satisfaction with the current nursing programme, clinical practicums, theoretical education, and generic competence measured with the Nurse Competence Scale. The data were analysed statistically. Graduating nursing students’ self-assessed level of empowerment was moderate, with statistical differences between countries. Those with high empowerment had no intention to leave the nursing profession, had a higher level of study achievements, and a higher self-assessed generic competence level. The results suggest that empowerment needs to be enhanced during nursing education. Further research is needed to understand the development of empowerment during the early years of a nursing career.


Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.





Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 20:44