The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the motivation for choosing nursing studies

Introduction
The factors that provide the motivation for choosing a particular field of study and, consequently, a future profession include individual interests, professional aptitude, an expected sense of satisfaction, prospects of further success, and the possibility of getting an interesting, well-paid job.

Aim of the study
To determine the motivation for choosing nursing studies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and methods
The survey was conducted among 209 first-year nursing students using an electronic version of the authors’ survey questionnaire.

Results
When choosing a field of study, the largest percentage of respondents were guided by the desire to help and care for other people (67.46%), the possibility of obtaining a high level of satisfaction resulting from saving health and lives (63.64%), and developing their interests in health and medicine (63.64%). The majority of respondents (73.21%) said that the pandemic did not influence their choice of studies. In the group of respondents who declared that the pandemic had an impact on their decision to choose a field of study, for 55.17% it turned out to be a positive one.

Conclusions
When choosing a field of study, respondents were guided by the desire to help and care for people, the possibility of gaining a high level of satisfaction resulting from saving health and lives, and the opportunity to develop their interests. The majority of respondents said the pandemic had no impact on their choice of studies, whereas for the others the impact was mostly positive.