title: Don't go with the 'FLO' - a student mobile texting service to enhance nursing student retention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The review undertaken revealed that there is an abundance of literature concerning retention and the high levels of attrition among undergraduate students and of relevance here, nurse education. The study undertaken evaluated the use of mobile phone automated texts designed to provide information, support and reassurance to help alleviate the stress and anxieties that some undergraduate nursing students experience during the early phase of their studies and which can lead to some students leaving their programme.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to evaluate how use of automated mobile phone texts, using a system known as FLO, could usefully supplement pastoral support, as an intervention to reduce attrition among undergraduate nursing students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative and quantitative evaluation was conducted using an open-ended questionnaire designed specifically for the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample were two cohorts of undergraduate first year student nurses (n=178). Of these 123 (69%) signed up to FLO and 77 (63%) completed the evaluation form.
  
  
  METHODS
  The evaluation form that was administered in a classroom situation one week after use of FLO had ceased. Data were analysed through use of a descriptive statistics and thematic analysis approaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A range of key themes emerged from the analysis including that text messages were helpful and supportive, increased a sense of belonging to the University and encouraged retention. There were some unresolved issues concerning the costs incurred by participants when sending reply text messages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that FLO or use of similar mobile phone protocols can be a useful addition to approaches to improve undergraduate nursing student retention rates.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Staffordshire University, Brindley Building, Leek Rd, Stoke on Trent ST4 2DF, United Kingdom. Electronic address: e.boath@staffs.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boath
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Staffordshire University, Brindley Building, Leek Rd, Stoke on Trent ST4 2DF, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Annette.jinks@staffs.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jinks
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Staffordshire University, Brindley Building, Leek Rd, Stoke on Trent ST4 2DF, United Kingdom. Electronic address: n.b.thomas@staffs.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Staffordshire University, Brindley Building, Leek Rd, Stoke on Trent ST4 2DF, United Kingdom. Electronic address: r.a.thompson@staffs.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Staffordshire University, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY3 8XQ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: J.L.Evans@staffs.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Simple Shared Healthcare, Unit A 3 Longbow Close, Harlescott Lane, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 3GZ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: phil.oconnell@nhssimple.uk.
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.affiliation: Simple Shared Healthcare, Unit A 3 Longbow Close, Harlescott Lane, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 3GZ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Lisa.taylor@nhssimple.uk.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D040421:Cell Phone; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D060145:Text Messaging; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attrition; Automated mobile phone texts