A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE NURSING ACADEMICIANS IN TURKEY

Nursing; is a profession and a discipline composed of science and arts aiming to protect/develop human health. The occupational basics of the Nursing profession consist of questing methods including experimental, aesthetic and individual data and ethics. Dealing with these questing methods scientifically, in its full sense started in our country after Nursing Schools were founded. With the start of master’s and doctorate programmes in 1968 and 1972, today countless researchers and academicians have recorded important progress in various majors in terms of academic study. This study was planned as descriptive to specify the reasons of nursing academicians for choosing their majors and the problems they encounter throughout their academic studies. The questionnaire was sent to the departments relevant to nursing in Turkish state universities via e-mail. Information about the survey was given, and those whishing to participate in the questionnaire did so on the web.78 academician, from 30 different state universities participated in the research. The average age of the participants is 32.5 ± 5.1, 51% are single, 32% are associate professors and 68% are educational staff. 87% of the participants have occupational experience as health care professionals. 24% of the participants have bachelor’s degree, 27% have master’s degree 22% have doctoral degree from Hacettepe University. 96% of the participants are graduates of Nursing Department. 21% of the participants are graduates from the department of obstetric and gynecological nursing. 13% of the participants are doctorate graduates of the department of internal medicine nursing doctoral. It was detected that the interest in the major constituses some 37 % of the Nursing Academicians’ reasons for choosing Master’s degree. 54% of the research group chose their PHD programme for it is the continuation of their master’s degree. For their PHD programme 13% of the participants changed their major after their master’s degree and this change occurred because of the lack of nursing and/or their major program at doctorate level in the city they live. 92% stated that the reason for their academic carrier is contribute to the development of the profession by completing their self-development. The lack of academic staff, insufficiency in language skills, being unable to spare time due to excessive work, the psychological pressure and conflicts within the office, and financial asperity are among the main problems in the pursuit of academic career. Consequently, the resolution of the problems experienced by nursing academicians, through conclusive steps, will improve the desired future vision and mission of the profession both academically and in terms of nursing as regards the health care system.