Summary
This paper reports findings from the first phase of a national study conducted to
identify the intention of nursing students’ to work in a Primary Health Care setting
following registration. An online survey of final year nursing students enrolled at
Australian universities offering education leading to eligibility for registration
as a nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency was undertaken
during July–August 2014. Data were collected about students’ intention to enter Primary
Health Care as a career option, as well as their exposure to primary health care during
their nursing education and whether they had undertaken practice placements in a primary
health care setting. Analysis was conducted on 456 completed surveys. The findings
demonstrated that, despite the majority (98.2%; n = 447) of students being exposed to Primary Health Care during their studies, less than
a quarter (22.8%; n = 104) of the students who responded identified this as an area in which they intended
to work following registration. No association was found between students’ clinical
experiences and their identification of primary health care as a career preference.
Given the ageing population in Australia, the increased prevalence of chronic health
issues and the predicted ongoing primary health care workforce shortages, educational
and workplace strategies aimed at attracting new graduate nurse into Primary Health
Care settings are imperative.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 26, 2015
Accepted:
February 10,
2015
Received in revised form:
February 10,
2015
Received:
August 29,
2014
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Australian College of Nursing Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
