Iranian Nursing Students’ Satisfaction Regarding their Field of Study: A Review of Literature.

Background: Satisfaction with the field of study can be the source of motivation and the continuation of academic progress. This study aimed to review the Iranian nursing students’ satisfaction with their field of study and its related factors.Materials and Methods: In this review, an online search of databases Medline, ERIC, PyscINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar search engine up to March ۲۰۲۳. Two independent authors undertook the screening, selection, and quality assessment (using the STROBE scale).Results: The results showed that the mean satisfaction of students toward their field of study and future career was ۲۰.۷۷± ۳.۱۷ (out of ۳۵), and ۱۷.۸۴ ± ۲.۶۳ (out of ۳۰), respectively. The most effective factors in academic dissatisfaction were discrimination between nursing and medical students, physician prioritization, and a lack of proper presentation of the nursing field before entering university. In addition, ۸۳.۳% of the students had little satisfaction with the educational environment, ۴۷.۲% with the clinical environment, ۴۱.۷% with the theoretical educational method by professors, and ۴۱.۷% with the method of clinical education by clinical trainers. Moreover, ۴۷.۲% were not satisfied with the method of evaluation by the professors, and ۶۲.۵% were dissatisfied with the nursing social image. A weak, positive, and significant correlation was found between satisfaction with the field of study and the total score of clinical competence, as well as between gender and the attitude of discipline (p<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: Approximately half of the students reported a low level of satisfaction with the nursing field. Increasing the quality of theoretical education, improving clinical and evaluation processes and interactions and social prestige are important to promote the quality of education.