The influence of the sense of coherence and the level of education on the motives and satisfaction with the choice of becoming a professional paramedic

Introduction. One of the most important decisions every person has to make is the choice of profession, which may be a result of cool calculation or talents, interests and passions one possesses.

Aim. The aim of the research was to establish what factors influenced the decision to choose the paramedical profession as well as to determine the level of satisfaction resulting from this choice, depending on a kind of education and the sense of coherence a person has.

Material and methods. The research has been conducted among 336 paramedics who lead active working lives. The study is based on a diagnostic, auditorium survey, with the use of the author’s questionnaire.

Results. A kind of education did not diversify the examined areas in a way significant statistically. For most of the respondents the most important reason for choosing the career was an interest in paramedical medicine, a vocation for giving first aid and a possibility of having an interesting job. Paramedics are satisfied with the choice of career they have made, which is dependent on their sense of coherence in a way significant statistically.

Conclusions. Education and the sense of coherence have not been the factors diversifying the motives for choosing one’s career. In the light of a lowered level of the sense of meaning monitoring of this variable in the examined group seems justified. In order to verify candidates a psychophysical test should be introduced.

Nursing Topics 2014; 22 (4): 490–495