What Australian Nursing Students Value as Important in Undertaking Rural Practice
Article
Article Title | What Australian Nursing Students Value as Important in Undertaking Rural Practice |
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Article Category | Article |
Authors | Terry, Daniel R., Peck, Blake, Smith, Andrew, Stevenson, Tyrin, Nguyen, Hoang and Baker, Ed |
Journal Title | Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care |
Journal Citation | 20 (1), pp. 32-56 |
Number of Pages | 25 |
Year | 2020 |
Publisher | Binghamton University |
Place of Publication | United States |
ISSN | 1539-3399 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v20i1.589 |
Web Address (URL) | https://rnojournal.binghamton.edu/index.php/RNO/article/view/589 |
Abstract | Background: Rural health services in Australia are continually challenged by both the recruitment and retention of the nursing workforce. The aim of the study was to examine what nursing students consider the most important factors for undertaking a rural career in Australia. Methods: Nursing students (n=1,982) studying a three-year bachelor’s degree at an Australian University were invited to complete an online survey that examined their rural practice intentions. The questionnaire included demographic, rural background and career intentions, and a modified Nursing Community Apgar Questionnaire (NCAQ). Results: The factors identified most important among nursing students when considering rural practice include patient safety and high-quality care, having autonomy and respect from management, the establishment of positive relationships and good communication between different generations of nurses, and the work environment providing job satisfaction with good morale. Conclusions: This study provided insight for rural and regional universities and health services to better demonstrate what students indicate is important to take up rural practice, while highlighting unique challenges for the rural nursing workforce. Key elements are proposed that may be augmented at the university and health service level to guide recruitment and possibly retention. Rural recruitment and retention of new graduate nurses may be better achieved by addressing what nursing students feel are most important to them when considering rural practice, which are focused around management, decision-making, and practice environment factors rather than economic or community-based factors. The greatest importance to students is the ‘fit between’ them and the agency and much less about their ‘fit with’ the community into which they will be entering |
Keywords | Health Workforce; Nurses; Students; Community Apgar; Recruitment and Retention |
Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 4205. Nursing |
390303. Higher education | |
420321. Rural and remote health services | |
Byline Affiliations | Federation University |
Boise State University, United States | |
University of Tasmania |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/zyxz0/what-australian-nursing-students-value-as-important-in-undertaking-rural-practice
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