Preparedness of Pregraduate Student Nurses to Practice Their Profession in Crèches

Abstract

Summary Nursing degree courses in Bulgaria provide a wide range of career opportunities to graduates. These opportunities, however, do not solve the current problems of the healthcare system. This communication presents the results of a survey conducted among graduate students majoring in the nursing specialty at the Medical University in Pleven. The survey aimed to acquire information on the graduates’ willingness to practice in nurseries. A questionnaire containing 26 questions specially designed for the study was used. The data were processed with statistical software packages Statgraphics; SPSS v. 19 and Excel for Windows. Despite the sound theoretical and practical course of training, 13 (21.67%) of the students were embarrassed, and 13 said they had been cautious when they first entered a crèches during their training. Almost half of the respondents – 29 (48.33%) reported that they might work in a crèches only if it is necessary, and 16 (26.66%) – never. Only 9 (15.00%) declared they would be committed to caring for children aged one to three years. At the end of their training, student nurses did not feel sufficiently prepared for the psychological and pedagogical challenges to practice their profession in such child day care centers. The respondents had no clear idea of the role of the nurse in a crèches. Very few of the student nurses reported a willingness to work in a crèches.