Factors Affecting Discipline (Major) Choice among Newly Admitted Students of Nursing in Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Appraising the factors affecting the choice of nursing major may help to identify and improve incentives for choosing this profession. This study is an endeavor to determine factors affecting the choice of discipline among newly admitted nursing students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this descriptive cross sectional study, all newly admitted nursing students in Kerman University of Medical Sciences were entered into study through census (n=82). Data gathering tool was a questionnaire made by researcher. Data was analyzed using independent t test, paired t test, and repeated measure ANOVA. Results: According to the students, the most effective reason for choosing nursing was “eager to help people” and the least effective one was “having experience of health care before education”. Personal and professional factors were the foremost reason for choosing this discipline. Comparing the effect of three domains of personal (61.67%), environmental (38%), and professional (62.33%) on choosing the discipline revealed a significant statistical difference (p<0.001). Conclusion: Students’ parallel attention to personal and professional factors in choosing the discipline compared to trivial effect of environmental factors, implies that volunteers have considered their own interests and the characteristics of the profession rather than external (improper) factors. The extensive effect of professional factors shows that it is possible to attract more interested and motivated students to this discipline via the modification of these factors.