title: Barriers and enablers to retention of Aboriginal Diploma of Nursing students in Western Australia: An exploratory descriptive study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nursing education appropriate to the learning needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students is essential to prepare them for registration as nurses. Despite incentives to encourage the recruitment and retention of such students, a disproportionate number commence but do not finish their nursing studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the barriers and enablers to the retention of Aboriginal students in a Diploma of Nursing course (Enrolled/Division 2) in Western Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory descriptive design was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  One metropolitan educational facility catering for Aboriginal people offering an 18-month course in a block release format.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 16 students aged 18+years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Newly enrolled students (n=10) participated in an investigator-developed survey to explore their motivation for entering the course. Nine of these students and a further seven students who were nearing the end of their course participated in focus groups to explore their experiences of nursing education.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survey respondents had a mean age of 32.7years; most were female, had nominated family as influential in the decision to enroll, and commenced with a friend. Regarding recruitment and retention, the qualitative data highlighted the importance of students': perceptions of the training organisation, characteristics, experiences of nursing education, and sources of support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategies that develop individual's resilience and engage supportive networks can assist Aboriginal students to negotiate tertiary nursing study. Academic skills assessments supplemented with tailored educational support at entry can resource students to navigate increasingly complex course content. Flexibility throughout the course enables students to negotiate study in a context of ongoing family and financial obligations.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia; Centre for Nursing Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Australia; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia. Electronic address: susan.slatyer@health.wa.gov.au.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Slatyer
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia. Electronic address: j.cramer@ecu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia; School of Health Professions, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia. Electronic address: j.pugh@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: Judith D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Pugh
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nursing Research, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Australia; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia.
authors.forename: Diane E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Twigg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D054521:Cultural Competency; D003657:Decision Making; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010379:Peer Group; D011340:Problem Solving; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012944:Social Support; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D014904:Western Australia; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
keywords: Aboriginal nurses; Diploma programs; Education; Nursing; Student retention; Vocational education