Perception of Junior Nurse Students and Nurse Interns Regarding Public Image of Nursing

Background: The perception of nursing by the public plays an important role in determining the choice of nursing as a profession by young people. The aim of this study: to investigate the relationship between perception of junior nurse students and nurse interns regarding public image of nursing Subject and methods: the study was carried out at two different settings, namely faculty of nursing Ain Shams University and Ain Shams University Hospitals. The subjects of this study included two groups, 84 nursing students from first academic year and 94 from nurse interns. Using A descriptive, comparative design. Data were collected by using self -administered sheet which is based on Perceptions of Professional Nursing questionnaire. Results: The junior nurse students group has statistically higher mean score compared to Nurse interns regarding public image subscale and total perception scale. There was a highly statistically significant difference between junior nurse students & nurse interns agreement upon the public image subscale (P < 0.01). additionally that ;there was a statistically significant difference between junior nurse students & nurse interns agreement upon all studied subscales ,(P < 0.05).Conclusion: The junior nurse students group has statistically higher mean score compared to Nurse interns regarding public image subscale and total perception scale. there was a highly statistically significant intermediate strength positive correlation between value subscale and practice subscale perceived by junior nurse students. Recommendations the study findings, it was recommended that Conducting conference to appropriate orientation for junior undergraduates' nurse students& nurse interns about the nursing profession, history of nursing, ensure the media portray positive image of nursing to recruit more staff to join nursing. Encour age future studies in order provide a complete picture of nursing image and factors influencing it.