Factors that enhance rates of completion: what makes students stay?

Background: This study was one of four projects commissioned by NHS London to examine the readiness for work of nurses upon completion of their pre-registration programmes. The study examined the factors that contribute to students completing their nursing programmes.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to explore understanding the factors that influence the attrition and completion rates of year 2 students on the adult field of a pre-registration nursing programme.

Design: An ethnographic case study methodology was employed in two large London NHS Acute trust hospitals, both partnered with the same Higher Education Institution. Data was collected between 2010 and 2011 through a combination of document review, non-participant observation in practice settings, focus groups and interviews

Participants: A self-selected group of 50 year 2 student nurses from a total population of 200 participated in this study. All students were from the same cohort group at one London-based university who undertook practice learning experiences at two NHS Acute Trust hospitals.

Results: The study found a number of factors that impacted on retention which included student identify and the organisation, fostering resilience and clinical support. In addition the Higher Education Institute does not appear to be the most significant factor in a student's decision to continue on the programme, but that practice placement mentors and clinical placements have the greatest impact on student retention.

Conclusions: The study is important in that its findings contradict much of the literature on student nurse attrition and retention in that the clinical placement experiences emerges as the most important factor in whether a student chooses to stay or leave the course.