title: Student nurses' perceived challenges of nursing in India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A profound nursing shortage exists in India. Increasingly nursing students in India are opting to migrate to practise nursing abroad upon graduation. Perceptions and attitudes about nursing are shaped during student experiences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose in conducting this research was to illuminate student nurses' perceived challenges of nursing in India.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study took place at a hospital-based, private mission non-profit school of nursing in Bengaluru, India. Purposive sampling of nursing students yielded 14 participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Photovoice, a qualitative participatory action research methodology, was used. Data were collected between August 2013 and January 2014. A strong international collaboration between researchers resulted in qualitative thematic interpretation of photographs, critical group dialogue transcripts, individual journal entries and detailed field notes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two main themes were identified including the perceived challenges of a hierarchal system and challenges related to limited nursing workforce capacity. Subcategories of a hierarchal system included challenges related to image, safety, salary and balance. Subcategories of limited workforce capacity were migration, work overload, physical demand, incongruence between theory and practice, and knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing as a profession in India is still in its infancy when measured against standard criteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Change in health policy is needed to improve salary, safety for nurses, and nurse to patient ratios to address hierarchal and workforce capacity challenges in India.
authors.affiliation: Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Baylor University, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Prater
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Putturaj
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Challenges of Nursing; India; Nurse Migration; Nursing Workforce Capacity; Student Perceptions