We conducted a descriptive analysis among nurses working in a hospital to examine the relationship between their attitudes towards the profession and their occupational professionalism. The study was conducted between August 15 and December 15, 2013, with 156 nurses at the Gulhane Medical Faculty. Written approval was obtained from the ethics committee and the institution where the study was conducted. Data were collected using the "Inventory of Professional Attitudes at Occupation” and “Attitude Scale for Nursing Profession” and personal survey form. The data were evaluated using the SPSS 15.0 package program with numbers, percentages, means, t-test, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and correlation analysis.

The score for Inventory of Professional Attitudes at Occupation was 135.38±13.14 and the score for the Attitude Scale for Nursing Profession was 159.27±18.57. We found a significant difference between the nurses’ level of education and the mean score of the Inventory of Professional Attitudes at Occupation (p<0.05). With regards to loving the profession and thinking about changing the profession, the mean scores for the Inventory of Professional Attitudes at Occupation and the Attitude Scale for Nursing Profession were found to be significantly different (p<0.05). We also found positive relationships between the Inventory of Professional Attitudes at Occupation and Attitude Scale for Nursing Profession subscales.

As a result, as nurses’ Inventory of Professional Attitudes at Occupation scores increase, their Attitude Scale for Nursing Profession scores also increase significantly. We found that the level of education and liking the profession also positively influenced professional attitudes. By removing the different levels of education among members of the nursing profession, opportunities for professional education for nurses should be provided.

Keywords: TNursing, profession, healthcare worker's attitude