Didem Yüksel

Atilim University Health Sciences Faculty, Turkey

Title: First-Year Nursing Students' Perceptions of the Nursing Profession: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study

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Biography

Didem Yuksel graduated top of her class from Baikent University’s Nursing Department with a 3.35 GPA. She began her career at Bakent University Ankara Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where she served as both clinical nurse and head nurse over four years. While working, she earned a master’s degree in Pediatric Nursing from the same university with a 3.44 GPA, graduating with honors. She completed internships across diverse medical departments, including Neonatal Intensive Care, Pediatric Oncology, and Organ Transplant Units. She later worked as a Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Training Nurse at Innovex Health and spent six years in Clinical Neuroimmunology Units at Hacettepe and Ege University Hospitals. She also served three years as a research assistant at Ufuk University and one year as an Assistant Professor at Near East University. In 2022, she completed her PhD at Ege University, focusing on pediatric multiple sclerosis—a previously unstudied area in Turkey. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at Atilim University, Faculty of Health Sciences, where she leads academic research in pediatric nursing, coordinates educational programs, supervises postgraduate theses, and conducts clinical training.

Abstract

Aim: To explore first-year nursing students’ perceptions of the nursing profession using a phenomenological approach

Methods: In this qualitative study, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a Participant Information Form. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed in full, and analysed using qualitative content analysis, following the stages of preparation, organization, and reporting. Ethical approval was obtained, participants provided informed consent, and reporting adhered to the COREQ guidelines. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and 18 first-year nursing students were included in the study.

The study was conducted at the Nursing Department of the Faculty of Health Sciences at a foundation university in Türkiye. Participants consisted of 18 first-year nursing students enrolled in the “NURS101 Basic Concepts and Principles in Nursing” course during the 2025–2026 academic year, all of whom voluntarily agreed to participate in the study.

Results: The most of students described nursing as a profession based on scientific knowledge, ethics, and professionalism, emphasizing altruism, compassion, and personal fulfillment. The main challenges of the profession identified were long working hours, shift work, low salaries, and emotional burden. Students also noted that society still perceives nursing as merely “assisting doctors,” while they found job security and international opportunities appealing. Thematic analysis revealed six main themes: education and professionalism; altruism and spiritual values; challenges and resilience; societal perception and professional status; economic and structural factors; and professional identity and differentiation

Conclusion: Nursing students perceive the profession as challenging yet meaningful, patient-centered, and dedicated to serving society, with professional identity development beginning at an early stage.