A comparative study of the attitudes of nursing and medical students to aspects of patient care and the nurse's role in organizing that care

The purpose of this study was a comparative analysis of the attitudes of nursing and medical students toward some issues relating to patient care and the role of the nurse in organizing that care. The data were collected from I1 medical students and 19 undergraduate nursing students in their fourth or final year of study. Findings suggested that there was a statistically significant difference in the attitudes of both groups of students to the areas under investigation. Medical students were rather more cure‐oriented than nursing students who showed a care orientation. Further, the nursing students had a more positive attitude towards the need for a nursing assessment than their medical colleagues. Finally there was a marked difference in the way in which each group perceived the nurse's role, the nursing students emphasizing its independent scope while the medical students were less convinced on this issue. The conclusions suggest that both nursing and medical students need to develop a mutual understanding and respect for each other's roles if interprofessional relations are to improve.