Influence of Medical-Themed Shows on Career Choice among Freshmen Nursing Students

In this digital age, there is an emerging belief that another factor influences the way we choose our career — the realm of entertainment and media. This quantitative study examined how medical-themed shows influence freshmen nursing students’ career choice at St. Paul University Surigao. Using the Social Cognitive Career Theory of Lent, Brown, & Hackett (1994), based on Bandura’s Self-Efficacy and Social Cognitive Theories, this research aimed to assess how these shows impact students’ self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal goals related to the nursing profession. A researcher-made questionnaire was utilized, assessing 175 freshmen nursing students who had watched a medical-themed show before entering nursing. The findings revealed that medical-themed shows positively impacted students’ self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal goals, with each factor influencing the others and ultimately shaping their career aspirations in nursing. This study recommends that educational institutions address media literacy programs to help students critically evaluate media portrayals and align their career expectations with reality. This study also urges the film industry to present a more balanced and realistic view of the nursing profession. The implications extend to nursing educators, the nursing profession, and future researchers, emphasizing the need for accurate media representation in guiding students’ career choices and aspirations.