Motivation Levels and Affecting Factors In Students Enrolling In Surgical Diseases Nursing Course During The Pandemic

Introduction: Motivation plays a key role in adaptation of nursing students to their education programs. Many factors affect motivation. One of those factors appearing recently is the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the effect of the pandemic on motivation levels of nursing students is unclear. Methods: The study has a descriptive and cross-sectional design. The study was carried out in a nursing department at a university in Turkey. The study sample included 145 students enrolling in Surgical Diseases Nursing Course during the spring term of the 2020-2021 academic year. A sociodemographic data form and Motivation’s Resources and Problems Scale were used for data collection. Results: The mean scores of the students on Motivation’s Resources and Problems Scale and its subscales intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and negative motivation were 90.84±11.35, 43.59±6.67, 21.50±2.61 and 25.75±5.66 respectively. Intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation of the students had a positive relation with their perceived nursing profession during the pandemic. Conclusions: Students’ feeling afraid and worried during the caregiving process in the COVID-19 pandemic increased their motivation. Their perceptions about nursing during the pandemic also increased their motivation levels.