title: Educational preparation for clinical nursing: the satisfaction of students and new graduates from two Australian universities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attrition rates among young and newly registered nurses are high; the capacity of nurse education programmes to prepare nurses for their professional role and the extent to which they are supported during the transition from student to registered nurse may be important factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper examines nursing student and recent graduate satisfaction with their education, focusing on their preparation for work.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cohort design was used, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to measure and interpret satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two Australian universities, one urban and one regional.
  
  
  METHODS
  530 undergraduate nursing students and recent graduates from the Bachelor of Nursing programmes at the two universities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected via an online survey. Satisfaction with the programmes was measured with closed format questions covering different aspects of the programmes and a single open ended question. Responses were compared between older and younger respondents and between graduates and students at different stages of the programme.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Older students were more dissatisfied than younger students with the amount and type of training and their preparation for nursing work. First year students reported the highest levels of satisfaction, and third year students the lowest. The majority of graduates and third year students thought that the programme only partly prepared them for work in nursing. The free text comments particularly highlighted concerns with the amount and quality of clinical education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Programmes need to take account of the learning requirements of students to maximise the integration of theory and skill development in hospital environments with limited staffing and resources. The clinical environment and support received impact on the quality of learning and satisfaction of student nurses. Students who are dissatisfied with their educational and clinical experiences may choose to change their career direction.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 222, Lindfield, NSW 2070, Australia. Electronic address: Kathleen.Milton-Wildey@uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Milton-Wildey
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics Research & Evaluation, Faculty of Business, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia. Electronic address: patsy.kenny@chere.uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.affiliation: School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia. Electronic address: gparment@une.edu.au.
authors.forename: Glenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parmenter
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics Research & Evaluation, Faculty of Business, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia. Electronic address: jane.hall@chere.uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities
keywords: Clinical education; Mixed methods; Nursing education; Students' satisfaction