CHAPTER FOUR

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

4.0 Introduction

This chapter presents analysis of results gathered from the survey. The

primary purpose of the study is to assess the factors affecting the preference of

nursing profession among students in NMTC Teshie. The results were presented in

relation to the research objectives. Issues presented in this chapter include

respondents’ demographic characteristics, perception of students on the nursing

profession, and factors that influence the choice of enrolment into the nursing

profession.

4.1 Demographic Data of Respondents

This section presents the demographic characteristics of the respondents.

According to Figure 4.1 below, the majority of the respondents (83%) were females

as compared to their male counterparts (17%).

18%

Male
Female

83%

Figure 4.1: Gender of Respondents

Source: Researchers’ Fieldwork (2020)

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 Table 4.1 below presents respondents age group. It was revealed majority of

the respondents (71%) were between 18 to 22 years, whereas 23 respondents

representing 29% were between 23 to 27 years.

Table 4.1: Age Distribution of Respondents

Age Frequency Percentage (%)

18 – 22 years 57 71%
23 – 27 years 23 29%
Total response 80 100
Source: Researchers’ Fieldwork (2020)

As observed in Figure 4.2, 62 respondent representing 77% were Christians,

whilst 18 respondents representing 23% were Muslims.

Christian
Muslim
23%

78%

Figure 4.2: Religion of Respondents

Source: Researchers’ Fieldwork (2020)

4.2 Perception of Students on the Nursing Profession

Table 4.2 below presents the perception of students on the nursing

profession. Their perception was measure using a 5-point Likert scale comprising of

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 nine (9) items. For the purpose of discussions, the responses are grouped into two

categories. Thus, ‘disagree’ and ‘strongly disagree’ becomes ‘disagree’, whereas

‘agree’ and ‘strongly agree’ becomes ‘agree’. As observed in Table 4.2, nearly all

the respondents (98%) agreed that nursing is a caring profession. Sixty-four (64)

respondents representing 80% also agreed that nursing is a humanitarian job, whilst

only 7 (9%) respondents disagreed to this statement. The study also found that

majority of the respondents (62%) agreed that nursing is a physically challenging

job. It was also revealed that nearly all the respondents (92%) disagreed that there is

inadequate respect and recognition in the Nursing Profession.

Table 4.2 further revealed that majority of the respondents (71%) indicated

that nurses have good communication with people, whilst 5 (6%) respondents

disagreed. Again, 76 (95%) respondents stated that the nursing profession requires

patience and compassion. Seventy-three (73) respondents representing 91% also

agreed that the nursing profession requires highly skilled personnel. The study also

found that 75 (94%) respondents agreed that nurses are knowledgeable. Most of

them (70%) also agreed that nursing is an enjoyable job.

Table 4.2: Perception of Students on the Nursing Profession

Perception SD D N A SA Total
Nursing is a caring profession 0(0)* 0(0) 2(2) 11(14) 67(84) 80(100)

Nursing is humanitarian job 3(4) 4(5) 9(11) 44(55) 20(25) 80(100)

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Nursing is physically challenging 7(9) 10(12) 14(17) 30(38) 19(24) 80(100)
job

There is inadequate respect and 53(66) 21(26) 6(8) 0(0) 0(0) 80(100)
recognition in Nursing Profession

Nurses have good communication 0(0) 5(6) 18(23) 39(48) 18(23) 80(100)
with people

Nursing requires patience and 0(0) 0(0) 4(5) 21(26) 55(69) 80(100)
compassion

Nurses are highly skilled 0(0) 0(0) 7(9) 51(64) 22(27) 80(100)

Nurses are knowledgeable 0(0) 0(0) 5(6) 30(38) 45(56) 80(100)

Nursing is an enjoyable job 8(10) 2(2) 14(18) 29(36) 27(34) 80(100)

Note: SD = Strongly Disagree, D = Disagree, N = Neutral, A = Agree, SA = Strongly
Agree
* Percentages are in parenthesis
Source: Researchers’ Fieldwork (2020)

4.3 Factors that Influence the Choice of Nursing as a Profession

The second objective of the study was to determine the factors that influence

students’ choice of enrolment into the nursing profession at the Teshie Nursing and

Midwifery Training College. The results are presented in Table 4.3 below. For the

purpose of discussions, the responses are grouped into two categories. Thus,

‘disagree’ and ‘strongly disagree’ becomes ‘disagree’, whereas ‘agree’ and ‘strongly

agree’ becomes ‘agree’. From the table, it was found that all the respondents (100%)

indicated that they enrolled into the nursing profession because they find it

interesting. Majority of the respondents (71%) also agreed that they find the nursing

profession an opportunity to care for people. About 40% of them agreed that they

enrolled into the nursing profession because it serves as an opportunity to work with

people, whereas nearly half of them disagreed to this statement. It was also found

that majority of the respondents (85%) agreed that nursing is their vocation in life.

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About 67% of the respondents also opined that they were motivated to enrol into

nursing because they find it as a sense of giving to the community.

Furthermore, the study revealed, as observed in Table 4.3 below, that only 29

(36%) respondents were motivated to enrol into the nursing profession by their

parents and relatives, whilst more than half of them (55%) were not. Most of the

respondents (49%) were not motivated by the financial incentives that they opt to

acquire in the Nursing Profession, whereas 39% of them were. It was also found that

half of the respondents (50%) disagreed that they have no interest in any other type

of programme. However, about 44% of them agreed that they have no interest in any

other of programme, which depicts their desire to take the nursing profession as their

career development. Again, it was found that neither a nurse nor friends motivated

majority of the respondents to enrol in the nursing profession (93% and 86%

respectively). The study also found that more than half of the respondents (59%)

indicated that they enrolled into the nursing profession because of the availability of

employment after school.

Table 4.3: Factors that Influence the Choice of Nursing as a Profession

Factors SD D N A SA Total
I find the nursing profession 0(0) 0(0) 0(0) 41(51) 39(49) 80(100)
interesting

I find the nursing profession an 0(0) 1(1) 22(28) 40(50) 17(21) 80(100)
opportunity to care for people

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I find the nursing profession an 23(29) 15(19) 10(12) 23(29) 9(11) 80(100)
opportunity to work with people

Nursing is my vocation in life (0) 10(12) 2(3) 40(50) 28(35) 80(100)

I find the Nursing Profession a 7(9) 15(19) 4(5) 34(42) 20(25) 80(100)
sense of giving to the community

I was motivated by my parents and 23(29) 21(26) 7(9) 13(16) 16(20) 80(100)
relatives to enrol in the nursing
profession

I was motivated by the financial 31(39) 8(10) 10(12) 14(18) 17(21) 80(100)
incentives in the nursing profession

I have no interest in any other type 25(31) 15(19) 5(6) 28(35) 7(9) 80(100)
of programme

I was motivated by nurse to enrol in 43(54) 31(39) 0(0) 6(7) 0(0) 80(100)
the nursing profession

I was motivated by friends to enrol 39(49) 30(37) 0(0) 9(11) 2(3) 80(100)
in the nursing profession

Availability of employment after 12(15) 17(21) 4(5) 33(41) 14(18) 80(100)

school
Note: SD = Strongly Disagree, D = Disagree, N = Neutral, A = Agree, SA =
Strongly Agree
* Percentages are in parenthesis
Source: Researchers’ Fieldwork (2020)

Table 4.4 shows that four (4) measures were suggested by the respondents to

improve the perception of students on the nursing profession. These includes public

education on the nursing profession (25.5%), encouraging career progression in

nursing in Ghana (8.5%), introduction and promotion of incentives in the nursing

profession (20.2%), and outreach programme by nurses to educate students on the

nursing profession (30.9%).

Table 4.4: Measures to Improve Perception on the Nursing Profession

Measures Frequency Percentage

6
 (%)
Public education on the nursing profession 24 25.5

Encouraging career progression in nursing in 8 8.5

Ghana

Introduction and promotion of incentives in the 19 20.2

nursing profession

Outreach programme by nurses to educate 14 14.9

students on the nursing profession

No response 29 30.9
Total response 94* 100
*Some respondents gave more than one response; N = 80
Source: Researchers’ Fieldwork (2020)

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 CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSIONS, SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.0 Introduction

This research study was aimed at assessing the factors that account for

enrolment in the nursing profession among youths in Teshie Nursing and Midwifery

Training College. This chapter presents the discussions of results in relation to the

set objectives, summary of results, conclusion drawn from the study, and

recommendations and areas for further research.

5.1 Discussions of Results

5.1.1 Perception of Students on the Nursing Profession

A look at the perception of students on the nursing profession showed that

the students had a good perception on the programme. The study found out that

nearly all the respondents (98%) perceived that nursing is a caring profession. About

80% of them also perceived that nursing is a humanitarian job. Again, nearly 92%

the respondents also perceived that there is adequate respect and recognition in the

nursing profession. Seventy-one percent (71%) of the respondents were of the

opinion that nurses have good communication with people. Nearly 95% of the

respondents argued that the nursing profession requires patience and compassion,

whilst 91% also opined that the nursing profession requires highly skilled personnel.

The study also found that 94% of the respondents depicted that nurses are

knowledgeable. About 70% of them also perceived that nursing is an enjoyable job.

However, majority of the respondents (62%) indicated that nursing is a physically

challenging job. In agreement with these results, other researchers have also come

out with comprehensive results about the perception of students on the nursing

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profession. Note worthily, the international literature shows that early perceptions of

students have a profound influence on their decision as to whether enrol into nursing

studies, and students frequently make decisions to leave nursing against the wishes

or without the support from their school or family (Spouse, 2010). A study of 1000

American nursing students reported that students believed nursing to be physically

challenging and that there is inadequate respect and recognition of nursing

(Buerhaus, Donelan, Norman, & Dittus, 2015). Other studies reported that nursing

students recognize nursing as a caring profession and as an opportunity to help

people gain a better health (Sand-Jecklin & Schaffer, 2016; O’Brien, Mooney, &

Glacken, 2017).

5.1.2 Factors that Influence the Choice of Enrolment into the Nursing

Profession

Results from the study captured five (5) major factors that influence

students’ choice of enrolment into the nursing profession. These include interest

from the nursing profession (100%), opportunity to care for people (71%), choice of

nursing as a vocation in life (85%), a sense of giving to the community, and the

availability of employment after school (59%). Findings from the study also found

that factors such as opportunity to work with people, parental and relatives’

influences, financial incentives, no interest in any other type of programme, and peer

influence did not affect respondents’ choice of enrolment into the nursing

profession. These results disagree with findings from other studies. Adewole,

Adebayo, and Obembe (2014), for instance, posited that influence from family

members was a cogent reason for studying nursing in a few of the participants (10%)

while others chose nursing because of failure to a secure university admission

(7.5%). Reported reasons for not choosing or preferring nursing as a career after

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basic nursing training included lack of interest or passion for nursing (22.8%).

Stevens and Walker (2013) also undertook a research on choosing a career.

Experiences with nurses and or illness were the other preferred characteristics in

choosing the profession of nursing.

The study revealed four (4) main measures, which were suggested by the

respondents to improve the perception of students on the nursing profession. These

includes public education on the nursing profession (25.5%), encouraging career

progression in nursing in Ghana (8.5%), introduction and promotion of incentives in

the nursing profession (20.2%), and outreach programme by nurses to educate

students on the nursing profession (30.9%). Similarly, other studies provide

strategies that can be adopted to improve the perception of students on the nursing

profession. Buerhaus, Donelan, Norman and Dittus (2015) identified information

and advice from practicing nurses as a factor that positively influenced students’

decision to become a nurse. Additionally, friends, parents and other family members

had a positive influence on students’ perceptions of nursing (Buerhaus, Donelan,

Norman, & Dittus, 2015; Williams, Wertenberger, & Gushuliak, 2017). Information

and career advisers were also found to have influenced students’ decisions to

become a nurse (Buerhaus, Donelan, Norman, & Dittus, 2015). Some studies

highlighted the role of media and society as factors influencing the choice of nursing

as a career (Sand-Jecklin & Schaffer, 2016).

5.2 Summary of Major Findings

A look at the perception of students on the nursing profession showed that

the students had a good perception on the programme. The study found out that

nearly all the respondents (98%) perceived that nursing is a caring profession. About

80% of them also perceived that nursing is a humanitarian job. Again, nearly 92%

10
the respondents also perceived that there is adequate respect and recognition in the

nursing profession. Seventy-one percent (71%) of the respondents were of the

opinion that nurses have good communication with people. Nearly 95% of the

respondents argued that the nursing profession requires patience and compassion,

whilst 91% also opined that the nursing profession requires highly skilled personnel.

The study also found that 94% of the respondents depicted that nurses are

knowledgeable. About 70% of them also perceived that nursing is an enjoyable job.

However, majority of the respondents (62%) indicated that nursing is a physically

challenging job.

Results from the study captured five (5) major factors that influence

students’ choice of enrolment into the nursing profession. These include interest

from the Nursing Profession (100%), opportunity to care for people (71%), choice of

nursing as a vocation in life (85%), a sense of giving to the community, and the

availability of employment after school (59%). Findings from the study also found

that factors such as opportunity to work with people, parental and relatives’

influences, financial incentives, no interest in any other type of programme, nurse

influence, and peer influence did not affect respondents’ choice of enrolment into

the nursing profession.

The study finally revealed four (4) main measures, which were suggested by

the respondents to improve the perception of students on the Nursing Profession.

These includes public education on the Nursing Profession (25.5%), encouraging

career progression in nursing in Ghana (8.5%), introduction and promotion of

incentives in the nursing profession (20.2%), and outreach programme by nurses to

educate students on the nursing profession (30.9%).

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5.3 Conclusion

In conclusion, the results show that generally, students had a good perception

about the nursing profession. The study further show that students were influenced

to enrol into the nursing profession by their interest in the nursing profession,

opportunity to care for people, choice of nursing as a vocation in life, a sense of

giving to the community, and the availability of employment after school.

Nevertheless, there are obviously factors such as parental and relatives’ influences,

financial incentives, and nurse influence that can facilitate students’ choice of

enrolment into the nursing profession.

5.4 Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the researchers made the following

recommendations to help improve the perception of students on the nursing

profession.

1. Although results from this study revealed that students had good perception

about the nursing profession, much work need to be done in terms of

educating students on the nursing profession. However, it is recommended

that there should be public education on the programme in order to attract

more students into the field.

2. Introduction and promotion of incentives in the nursing profession by the

Government of Ghana will encourage students in the Senior High Schools to

enrol into the programme.

3. Outreach programme by nurse educators can be very helpful in

disseminating information on the nursing profession to the general public.

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4. Adequate research work across the country on this topic is needed to

understand the factors that influence students’ choice of enrolment into the

nursing profession.

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