Staying the course: factors influencing pre-registration nursing student progression into year 2- a retrospective cohort study

Wray, Jane; Barrett, David; Aspland, Jo; Gardiner, Eric

Abstract

Aims/background
The retention of student nurses continues to concern the education sector internationally. Evidence shows that individual factors are correlated with a high risk of attrition, including age, disability, entry qualifications, financial issues, and placement experience. This paper is a report of a study that aimed to examine factors connected to progression and attrition by mapping student characteristics against Year 1 progression data.

Method
The study used a retrospective cohort design. Students within five cohorts in a single University in the north of England were invited to be included (n = 807). Quantitative data were collected from the University's information system (October 2009–January 2010). Of the total potential participants, 695 were included (13.8% excluded). Multinomial logistic regression was used to ascertain factors that predicted progression.

Results
As age on entry increased, the likelihood of non-progression from year one became less: i.e. older students appeared to be more likely to progress than their younger counterparts (p < 0.001, likelihood ratio chi-square test). Students who lived away from the local area outside term-time were significantly less likely to progress than those whose term-time and holiday domicile were the same (p = 0.007, likelihood ratio chi-square test). Students with dependents or previous care experience seemed more likely to progress than those without, although this was not statistically significant in a multivariable regression model.

Conclusion
With the changing demographic profile of students, the new ‘all-graduate’ programmes need to consider student characteristics that are correlated with likelihood of progression and not just focus on those that precipitate exit.

Citation

Wray, J., Barrett, D., Aspland, J., & Gardiner, E. (2012). Staying the course: factors influencing pre-registration nursing student progression into year 2- a retrospective cohort study. International journal of nursing studies, 49(11), 1432-1442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2012.06.006

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 13, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Jul 6, 2012
• Publication Date: 2012-11
• Journal: International Journal of Nursing Studies
• Print ISSN: 0020-7489
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 49
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 1432-1442
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2012.06.006
• Keywords: General Nursing
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/417536
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020748912001897?via%3Dihub