A study to determine knowledge attitude and perception of Grade 12 pupils at Kasama girls high school towards nursing as a career in the new millenium.

Abstract

The study was aimed at determining knowledge, attitude and perception of grade 12 pupils of Kasama Girls High School towards nursing as a future career in the new millennium. Literature review was done globally, regionally and nationally but it has revealed that very few studies have been conducted in this area especially at regional and national levels. A pilot study was conducted at David Kaunda High School among grade 12 pupils using a sample of 5 subjects before the actual study was conducted. An exploratory descriptive study design was used. The research participants were randomly selected using simple random sampling procedure. A sample consisted of fifty [50] respondents who were females. Data was collected using a self administered questionnaire. The study revealed that most of the respondents [88%] had inadequate knowledge about nursing. The study also revealed that all the respondents [100%] felt that nursing was neither a career for the lowly educated nor for females only and 40% of them wanted to take up nursing as a career. However, all the respondents [100%] stated that nurses were important in society. The reasons advanced by the respondents for taking up nursing as a career included helping the sick [21%], nursing is the only reliable employment [16%], working in foreign countries [9%], wanting to look nice in white uniform [19%], open up private hospitals after being trained [4%], interest and a calling from God [13%].