Experience of Career Decision of Korean Nursing Students

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of career decision making by Korean nursing students. Methods: The participants were 18 nursing students from one nursing college. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews, and the main question was, “Could you describe your experience of making a career decision?” Data from the field and transcribed notes were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin’s grounded theory methodology. Results: Core category of nursing students’ experiences in making career decisions was ‘trying to find the way of being a nurse’. Action/interaction strategies were ‘becoming one’s own self’, ‘actively exploring the way of being a nurse’, and ‘experiencing one’s own achievement as a future nurse’. Consequences were ‘deciding on the career on one’s own’ and ‘career indecision on one’s own’. Conclusion: The findings indicate that nursing students tried to know themselves, explore careers and experience their achievements, and that their efforts were influenced by real situations and support systems. Therefore, nurse educators should develop systems and programs to help students in nursing make career decisions.