Assessment of nursing studesnt's leadership orientation and motivation level

One of the aims of the education is to educate the next generation of leaders who will influence the many domains of social life and will take roles and responsibilities in management of the country. Nursing professionals, clinicians and nursing managers of 21st century are supposed to contribute to nursing profession and nursing education for prospective qualified nursing leaders, and help nursing students to gain and developed their leadership behaviours. The aim of the study was to assess the nursing students? leadership orientation and professional motivation, and to propose suggestions for improving the nursing students? leadership behaviours and professional motivation. The study adopted an experimental design. Research population was made of 2nd class, 3rd class and 4th class students studying at nursing school of a foundation university. The study sample comprised of 300 undergraduate nursing students. Data were collected using Student Information Form and Leadership Orientation (Self) Survey and Motivation?s Resources and Problems Scale. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. The current study found that the nursing students obtained higher scores from Human orientation leadership behaviours domain, and lowest scores from Transformational leadership behaviours domain. The scores of Charismatic leadership behaviours domain were higher in students who rated their academic success as good level than those who rated their academic success as average. Nursing students? mean scores of Motivation?s Resources and Problems Scale were 4.10 ± 0.54 for Intrinsic motivation subscale, 4.22 ± 0.54 for Extrinsic motivation subscale, 3.95 ± 0.44 for Professional learning motivation subscale and 3.53 ± 0.78 for Negative motivation subscale. Negative motivation and Professional learning motivation level was higher in fourth grade students than second or third class nursing students (p < 0.05). The internal and external motivation was higher in female nursing students than male nursing students (p < 0.05). This study suggests that is vital to develop the curriculum of nursing schools for improving nursing students? internal, external and professional learning motivation and leadership skills.Key Words: Motivation, leadership, nursing students