Preventive Care In Nursing and Midwifery Journal

en Assessment of the Nursing Image and Its Associated Factors from the Perspective of Hospitalized Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study Nursing Orginal research <div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Nursing image refers to the public perception of the nursing profession and is closely related to nurses’ professional identity and role. A positive image can enhance motivation and job satisfaction, whereas a negative perception may reduce confidence, motivation, and professional commitment among nurses. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the image of nursing and identify demographic and clinical factors influencing it from the perspective of hospitalized patients in Zanjan, Iran. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 698 adult patients hospitalized in medical–surgical wards of hospitals in Zanjan. Patients were selected through randomly scheduled hospital visits. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Nursing Image Questionnaire (NIQ), which includes 30 items scored on a five-point Likert scale (1–5), with total scores ranging from 30 to 150; higher scores indicate a more positive perception of nursing. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: The mean nursing image score was 116.31 (11.29) out of 150, indicating a relatively positive perception of nursing among patients. Older patients, those with lower educational levels, and urban residents reported significantly higher nursing image scores. Additionally, patients with more frequent prior hospitalizations and those who had an inherent interest in the nursing profession showed more positive perceptions (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings provide useful evidence for hospital administrators and medical universities to design targeted interventions that strengthen the positive image of nursing while meeting both patients’ expectations and nurses’ professional needs.  </div> Nursing Image, Patients, Hospitalization, Zanjan 64 73 http://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-953-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Zahra Hasani za.hasani93@zums.ac.ir https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4353-2683 No Department of Operating Room and Anesthesiology, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Azar Avazeh nurse@zums.ac.ir https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9704-4856 Yes Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Batoul Allahloei b.allahloei@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3380-7084 No School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Kourosh Amini korosh@zums.ac.ir https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2363-894X No Department of Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran