Effects of the Fear of COVID-19 on Professional Perception among Nursing Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: The impact of a pandemic on psychological health is an essential factor in determining professional perception.  This study aims to evaluate the fear of COVID-19 and the perception of the nursing profession and examine the relationship between them. Material and Methods: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional design using self-report questionnaires distributed to 976 nursing students in Turkey. Results: The findings showed that students’ COVID-19 fear levels in the present study were moderate, and their perceptions of the nursing profession were positive. There was a weak and positive correlation between the students' COVID-19 fear and the total score averages of the Nursing Profession Perception Scale. Conclusion: There was a two-way relationship between professional perception and fear of COVID-19. The education programs need to be ready to prepare future nurses to deal with future novel pandemics and increase the perception of the profession.