This poster presentation aims to answer the question, "Why is it important for nursing students to have a voice?" Despite the government's commitment to bringing 50,000 new registered nurses to the NHS by 2024 (NHS England, 2019), the annual rate of attrition from nursing courses has typically been around 24% (Nursing Standard, 2018). To understand why, the researcher surveyed 122 nursing students using four primary questions and conducted a thematic analysis to identify the key themes. The findings show that there are clear barriers to nursing students having a voice, including poor communication with the university and placement, lacking confidence to speak up, and fear of repercussions. However, having a voice is crucial as nursing students are the next generation of nurses and have a duty of care going into the profession. The findings also provide recommendations to improve the retention of a generation of student nurses, such as providing support, advocacy, active listening, passionate mentors, a student platform, and training for students and staff.
Permanent link to this resource: https://doi.org/10.24384/0na3-ww09
Palmer, Emily
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Year: 2023