Determining student satisfaction in a nursing college.

This study was carried out to determine the satisfaction and expectations of students in a nursing college in Turkey and is descriptive and prospective in nature. A student satisfaction scale developed by the researchers was used in this study. With no method of sampling employed, a total of 694 students attending the nursing college during the years of 1999, 2000 and 2001 were included in the study. The results showed that student satisfaction increased in 2001. Mean satisfaction score was high in the first year (x = 126) but decreased in the second year (x = 98). The third year was when the score reached its highest level (x = 128), and the fourth year was when it decreased to its lowest level (x = 95). The students included in this study strongly believed that there was room for improvement in the present education system, recreational activities and other services rendered by their college. Most of the students felt that the nursing college they were attending fell short of their expectations. Of note, many of them declared to have started nursing education as a last resort, that it was not their first choice, and that they did not score high enough in the university entrance exam to enable them to study a different subject.