The future nursing workforce in Australia: baseline data for a prospective study of the profile, attrition rates and graduate outcomes in a contemporary cohort of undergraduates
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Keywords
attrition, retention, undergraduate, nursing, evidence-based, demographic profile
Abstract
Objective: To gather data from ten universities across two Australian states in order to: provide a descriptive demographic profile of undergraduate Australian nursing students; provide baseline data for a prospective analysis of attrition within undergraduate nursing programs; and to facilitate student recruitment into a prospective cohort study to examine graduate outcomes.
Methods: Approval was sought from each Head of School to enable recruitment of undergraduate nursing students as a sub‑sample of an ongoing large scale longitudinal e‑cohort study involving Australian, New Zealand and United Kingdom nurses and midwives
(http://www.e‑cohort.net). Each nursing school nominated a contact person to become part of the research team; provide aggregate data on the quantity and demographic profile of currently enrolled undergraduate nursing students; and to facilitate recruitment of students into the cohort study.
Results: Two of the ten universities could not supply any demographics of their undergraduate nursing student body and one university could not provide data on year levels. The remaining data revealed an interesting demographic profile in the following areas: the age range of students across both states was 17 to 68 years, with just under half the population of students aged over 25 years. Some universities had a younger cohort of students in comparison to others and this was potentially associated with universities which only offered their program in full‑time mode. The high proportion of students choosing to enrol in their undergraduate program part‑time in South Australia (22.5%) as well as the large number of international students at one Queensland university (28% in year one) may impact on the future graduate nursing workforce supply. Retrospective analysis of the average attrition rate in Queensland
Conclusion: Whilst this preliminary data reveals some interesting issues, in general, there is a paucity of evidence about the demographics of the future Australian nursing workforce, attrition within undergraduate nursing programs and graduate outcomes. Clearly there is a need to systematically track undergraduates and new graduates to quantify student attrition, graduate retention and career plans and begin to build this evidence‑base. A minimum demographic dataset of all undergraduate nursing students in Australia should be established to track trends over time that will inform future workforce planning.
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Lynda Gaynor BN (Hons), RN
Honours Scholar and Research Assistant, School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Queensland, Australia. [email protected]
Tamara Gallasch BBSc
Honours Scholar and Research Assistant, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia.
Emily Yorkston BSc (Hons), PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar, School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Queensland, Australia.
Simon Stewart BA, Grad Dip Ed, PhD
Professor of Health Research School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Queensland, Australia.
Fiona Bogossian RN, RM, Dip App Sci (NEd), BApp Sci (Distinction), MPH, PhD
Acting Postgraduate Research Coordinator, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Queensland, Australia.
Carrie Fairweather RN, RPN, BN(Hons), PhD Candidate
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Logan Campus, Queensland, Australia.
David Foley RN, BSc, MN
Bachelor of Nursing Coordinator, Adelaide University, South Australia, Australia.
Helen Nutter RN, BN
Bachelor of Nursing Coordinator, University of Southern Queensland, Australia.
Jan Thompson RN, RPN, BN, MA
Undergraduate Programs Coordinator, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia.
Lee Stewart RN, RM, DipTch(Nsg), BHSc, PGCertEd, MDispute Resolution
Deputy Head of School, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition, James Cook University, Townsville Campus, Queensland, Australia.
Jenny Anastasi RN, BHSc(N), MPH and TM, GD.Ed (FET), MEd
Program Coordinator, Post‑Graduate Nursing and Midwifery, Competence Assessment Service, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Central Queensland University, Australia.
Jenny Kelly PhD
Head, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Australian Catholic University, McAuley Campus, Queensland, Australia.
Dr Lynne Barnes RN, RMHN, PhD
Program Director Bachelor of Nursing, Academic Liaison, University of South Australia.
Pauline Glover RN RM EdD FACM
Associate Professor, Associate Dean, Academic, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia.
Catherine Turner RN, BA, Grad Dip Ed, MN, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of Queensland, Australia.