| The national nursing shortage poses health risks to patients and the community. One approach used to mitigate the shortage is increasing interest in nursing as a desirable career among high school and college-age individuals. One method used to promote nursing as a career is via promotional advertisements in media (i.e. television, internet, radio, flyers, etc). The goal of this dissertation is to provide relevant and accurate policy recommendations for organizations deploying nursing promotionals using media with the goal of portraying a positive image of nursing. This topic was addressed using online survey methodology with a national sample of undergraduate college students (n = 842). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. Results indicated that females and older students continue to have a much greater tendency to enroll in nursing programs than other student groups. Parental career and region of parental residence were also factors in an individual's career decision making. More importantly, nursing promotionals were found to be positively associated with increased likelihood of nursing school enrollments. This dissertation discusses the impacts of the findings in relation to media policy and provides some direction in utilization of media resources in addressing the nursing shortage. |
