Professional values and career choice of nursing students.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Professional values are abstract and general behavioral principles that provide basic standards to judge aims and actions, and these principles are formed by strong emotional loyalty of members of the profession. Research was conducted to compare the career choice and professional values of nursing students at two universities in the upper Midwest of the United States and in the middle of Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive and comparative design was used. The participants of the study were comprised nursing students from a university in the upper Midwest of United States and a university in the middle of Turkey. The sample consisted of 728 students in all grades. Data were collected by a questionnaire, The Nurses Professional Values Scale-Revised and Vocational Choices in Entering Nursing Scale. Number, percentage distribution, mean, standard deviation, t test, and one-way variance analysis were used in the analysis of data. Ethical considerations: Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Commission. Informed consent was received from the students. RESULTS: The students' mean age for American students was 24.3 ± 5.6 years, while the mean age for Turkish students was 19.8 ± 1.7 years. Mean score of American students on The Vocational Congruency (a subgroup of the Vocational Choices in Entering Nursing Scale) was 38.5 ± 5.9 and Turkish students was 29.6 ± 8.9 (p < 0.05). Mean score of American students on The Nurses Professional Values Scale-Revised was 109.2 ± 12.3 and that of Turkish students was 101.6 ± 17.0. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that the majority of nursing students had high professional values, and when students' scores were compared, American students had higher professional values, and in career choice, they considered primarily fitness of the profession to themselves and their goals, while Turkish students primarily thought of their living conditions.

Psychological Problems Experienced by Women with Gynecological Cancer and How They Cope with It: A Phenomenological Study in Turkey.

This study was carried out to reveal, in detail, the psychosocial problems faced by women in Turkey during their illness with gynecological cancer, and how they cope with these problems. The phenomenological approach used for the methodology is consistent with that described by Clark Moustakas's transcendental phenomenology. The sample included 17 married women. A semistructured, in-depth question directive was used to collect the data. The psychological problems found in the women in the study included frustration and despair, depression, inability to control anger, disruption in body image, and problems with their sex lives. The women in the study stated that, among other activities, they prayed frequently. They also emphasized that social support from family and others was important in coping. The majority said that they were able to cope through denial. Women under treatment for gynecological cancer should be evaluated from a psychosocial standpoint, and spiritual care and social support should be provided as they frequently use these to cope with their illness. It is recommended that a team be created, consisting of nurses, psychiatrists or psychologists, and religious staff to meet these needs.

The effect of education given before surgery on self-esteem and body image in women undergoing hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of information provided before surgery on the self-esteem and body image of women undergoing hysterectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study had a semi-experimental design with pre-post tests. A total of 60 women were included in the study and divided into two groups, the intervention group (n=30) and control group (n=30). A questionnaire, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and the body image scale were used to collect data. RESULTS: The pre- and post-test body image scores were similar in the intervention group patients, but the post-test scores were significantly higher in the control group (p<0.05). The pre- and post-test self-esteem scores were again similar in the intervention group, but the post-test scores were significantly lower in the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that health education given to patients prior to hysterectomy protects body image and consequently self-esteem.

The effect of ethics training on students recognizing ethical violations and developing moral sensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Moral sensitivity is a life-long cognitive ability. It is expected that nurses who work in a professional purpose at "curing human beings" should have a highly developed moral sensitivity. The general opinion is that ethics education plays a significant role in this sense to enhance the moral sensitivity in terms of nurses' professional behaviors and distinguish ethical violations. AIM: This study was conducted as intervention research for the purpose of determining the effect of the ethics training on fourth-year students of the nursing department recognizing ethical violations experienced in the hospital and developing ethical sensitivity. METHODS: The study was conducted with 50 students, with 25 students each in the experiment and control groups. Students in the experiment group were provided ethics training and consultancy services. The data were collected through the data collection form, which consists of questions on the socio-demographic characteristics and ethical sensitivity of the students, Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire, and the observation form on ethical principle violations/protection in the clinic environment. The data were digitized on the computer with the SPSS for Windows 13.0 program. The data were evaluated utilizing number, percentile calculation, paired samples t-test, Wilcoxon test, and the McNemar test. RESULTS: The total Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire pre-test score averages of students in the experiment group were determined to be 93.88 ± 13.57, and their total post-test score averages were determined to be 89.24 ± 15.90. The total pre-test score averages of students in the control group were determined to be 91.48 ± 17.59, and their total post-test score averages were determined to be 97.72 ± 19.91. In the study, it was determined that the post-training ethical sensitivity of students in the experiment group increased; however, this was statistically not significant. Furthermore, it was determined that the number of ethical principle protection/violation observations and correct examples provided by students in the experiment group were higher than the control group and the difference was statistically significant. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Written permission and ethical approval were obtained from the university where the study was conducted. Written consent was received from students accepting to participate in the study. CONCLUSION: As a result, ethics education given to students enables them to distinguish ethical violations in a hospital and make a proper observation in this issue.

Hymen Tearing in the Treatment of Vaginal Agenesis: Implications on Women in Turkey.

Rupture of the hymen before marriage is a significant problem for a woman and her family. The purpose of this article is to present a case report where hymen membrane perforation was required for vaginal agenesis in a 13-year-old adolescent, identify psychosocial issues related to the torn hymen in the Turkish culture, discuss gender inequality affecting health care of women with a torn hymen, identify the impact of a torn hymen on a Turkish woman's social status, and discuss health care implications for the woman and her family. The girl could not understand the situation and experienced feelings of guilt. The parents displayed an intense reaction of shock and denial after being informed about the disorder and treatment process and felt a sense of hopelessness about the future of their daughter. Nurses are expected to fulfill their training, counseling, and advocacy roles about this issue.