title: The perceived benefits of belonging to an extra curricular group within a pre-registration nursing course.
abstract: This study describes a qualitative research design that focuses on nursing students who were aligned to different extra-curricular groups (a student representative committee, a Nurses' Day Committee and a magazine editorial team) within the School of Health. The study explores the nursing students' experiences and perceptions of belonging to an extra-curricular group within a pre-registration nursing course. Data were collected using focus groups. The findings of this study suggest that students who are members of extra-curricular groups perceive group membership to have many positive benefits. The findings were grouped into three main themes namely: employability, retention and personal gain. The findings suggest that students are clearly aware of their career development and expressed how group membership meant they were able to develop skills around employability. Students highlighted that they gained support and built lasting relationships through the groups which supported and reassured them which it was felt enabled them to progress successfully through the course. These themes reinforce the value of having established groups within a pre-registration curriculum.
authors.affiliation: University of Central Lancashire, School of Health, Brook Building, Fylde Road, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2HE, UK. Electronic address: sgerrard1@uclan.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerrard
authors.affiliation: University of Central Lancashire, School of Health, Brook Building, Fylde Road, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2HE, UK. Electronic address: jjbillington@uclan.ac.uk.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Billington
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D012933:Social Identification; D012951:Socialization; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Belonging; Employability; Group membership; Student retention