Career interests of undergraduate nursing students: A ten-year longitudinal study. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hunt, Grace; Verstappen, Antonia; Stewart, Lisa; Kool, Bridget; Slark, Julia
• Is Part Of: Nurse education in practice. Volume 43(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: Nursing -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Education, Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Study and teaching; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610.73071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2020.102702
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-5953

Abstract

Abstract: An understanding of students' career interests at entry and exit from undergraduate nursing programmes could inform decisions regarding curricula and clinical placements. Since 2006, the University of Auckland has surveyed healthcare students at entry to and exit from their respective programmes, collecting information on a range of demographic, and career-related factors. This article describes career interests of over 500 undergraduate nursing students in New Zealand over a ten-year period. All Bachelor of Nursing cohorts commencing between 2006 and 2016 were invited to complete a questionnaire which included questions about their career interests. In total 1875 questionnaires were completed (89% response rate). Among the overall cohort at entry, there was strongest interest for emergency care and child health, and least interest in older person's health. At exit, child health and surgery (general) were of strongest interest to the cohort, while older person's health remained of least interest. The analysis of the paired data (n = 564) identified decreases in interest for mental health and child health over the course of the programme, while there was an increased interest in primary health care. Changes in career interests indicate that education and clinical exposure to specialty areas during the programme may influence career interests. Highlights: First 10-year longitudinal study of nursing students career choices. Nursing students remain disinterested in working in older persons health. Interest in primary health care increased after clinical exposure.