title: Exploring the experiences and expectations of year 1 children's nursing students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attrition among children's nursing students remains high despite the field of practice attracting large numbers of applicants. While previous studies have examined nursing students as a group, this study specifically examines the children's nursing student experience.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expectations and early experiences of children's nursing students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A phenomenological approach was adopted. Four focus groups were conducted at the beginning and end of the first year of a three-year programme.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The students defined children's nursing by the age and needs of the client group. They had expected practice experience would solely be within the acute setting. The acquisition and confidence in undertaking psychomotor skills was of importance to this group of students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The students' unmet expectations may have a negative effect on their experience of the programme and therefore potentially on their decision to continue on the programme.
authors: University of Hull. jacqueline.wright@hull.ac.uk
authors: Jackie
authors: J
authors: Wright
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Wray
mesh_terms: D004506:Education, Nursing; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D000078329:Workforce