Analysis of the Intelligence Structure in Nursing Students

Abstract

Preparation for the profession of a nurse requires, in addition to knowledge, the development of specific skills; many of them are primarily connected to cognitive abilities. In the context of effective education, one of the key facts is to recognise the intelligence structure of nursing students. The aim of the research was to analyse the intelligence structure in nursing students, to compare scores in individual areas of intelligence with the norm, to identify problematic areas of intelligence, and to suggest possibilities for intervention in education. The research sample consisted of 266 women aged 19 to 43 years old (average age = 20.10 years) - current students of the study field of nursing at the bachelor's degree. Data collection was carried out in the years 2014 - 2019. To measure the structure of intelligence, a standardized IST-70 questionnaire was used, focusing on two meta constructs - reasoning and memory. Subtests of numerical, verbal, and figural intelligence were analysed within the meta construct of reasoning. The value of the gross score of the total intelligence level of the examined group (M = 84.95; SD = 19.87) is comparable (t = -1.58; sig. = 0.114) with the population norm (M = 87; SD = 25). The research sample of nursing students scored statistically significantly higher in the meta construct of memory (t = 7.84; sig. = 0.000) and significantly lower in the meta construct of reasoning (t = -3.876, sig. = 0.000). The most significant deficits were present in figural and numerical intelligence. In view of the results achieved, we recommend introducing interventions in the area of training future nurses, which should be aimed at compensating for deficits in figural and numerical intelligence.