Abstract

Is there any decline in college students’ participation in decision making? This qualitative pilot study explores these factors and will help inform future related studies. To make a decision, one needs to initiate the thought process by using cognitive and emotive compartments in concert, recognize a need, decide on how to meet the need, and make a conscious choice as how to implement the decision. Decision making is a complex mental process that may be affected by one’s life experiences, cultural, environmental/societal, and spiritual realms. Several studies demonstrate a significant relationship between apathy and a decline in civic and political participation. The lack of interest in political affairs is attributed to perceptions of leaders’ incompetence, leaders’ lack of caring, and corruption of the political institution. At the same time, we see a decline in student participation in in class activities, dialogues, and student-student interactions. Do the learned behaviors in the classroom extend and translate into the similar behaviors outside of the classroom? The purpose of this study was to explore and compare the thoughts and feelings of nursing faculty members and student nurses regarding the dress code and their perceptions of professional attire. In general, faculty members view the dress code as a way of ensuring that nursing students conform to the professional norm and as a way to maintain the nurse-patient bond. On the other hand, some students would be offended if a dress code policy were instituted. They believe they are adults and should be treated accordingly. When given an opportunity to participate in making decisions about formulating a dress code policy, many didn’t participate. Results of this study indicate that reasons for not wanting to participate relate to variations in age and participants’ life experiences and their socio-cultural backgrounds.