Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to assess the level of professionalization among final-year nursing students during their final clinical internship at ISTM Kikwit.
Methodology: A quantitative correlational design was used. The study involved final-year students in nursing sciences. Using non-probability accidental sampling, 95 undergraduate final-year nursing students were selected based on their presence in different departments at the Kikwit North General Reference Hospital. Data were collected through systematic observation.
Results: The main findings indicate that the level of professionalization among the students was 36.8%. Bivariate analysis showed that the professional attitudes acquired during nursing education had only a limited favourable influence on the professionalization of future nurses. However, the observed elements also demonstrated that nursing education had a significant influence on the professional development pathway of future nurses trained at ISTM Kikwit.
Conclusion: The low level of professionalization among final-year nursing students strongly supports the need to strengthen mechanisms that alternate between theoretical instruction and practical clinical training. Training institutions and nursing educators should implement targeted interventions aimed at developing positive professional values among nursing students. Such values may improve students’ readiness for employment and their ability to practice effectively immediately after completing their training.
Keywords: Nursing education; nursing student; final-year student; professionalization.