Should nursing-related work experience be a prerequisite for acceptance into a nursing programme? A study of students' reasons for withdrawing from undergraduate nursing at an Australian university.
OBJECTIVE
This paper reports on two studies that examined why students withdrew from a Bachelor of Nursing degree.


BACKGROUND
With the aim of recruiting undergraduate candidates who are the most likely to complete the degree and pursue a nursing career, the University of Adelaide requires high matriculation scores and satisfactory performance in a structured oral assessment as part of the process of selection.


METHODS
In the first study, two questionnaires were used to collect data from all applicants before and after an oral assessment. The degree of personal desire and motivation to become a Registered Nurse, including knowledge about nursing and the profession were among qualities rated. For the second study, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with students who had withdrawn.


RESULTS
Statistical comparison showed there were significant differences between continuing and withdrawing applicants in whether or not they had previous nursing-related experience and in knowing someone who was a nurse. The qualitative data reinforced the importance of these factors for attrition. Participants identified emotional issues surrounding an aversion to illness, sickness, pain, suffering and blood.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of both studies suggest that a primary factor in attrition is a lack of realistic expectation regarding nursing as a profession.
Discipline of Nursing, School of Population Health & Clinical Practice, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. anne.wilson@adelaide.edu.au
Anne
A
Wilson
Anna
A
Chur-Hansen
Amy
A
Marshall
Tracy
T
Air
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012579:Schools, Nursing; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014937:Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult