Student nurse attrition: use of an exit-interview procedure to determine students' leaving reasons

This study is part of a research programme at the University of Glamorgan aimed at reducing student nurse discontinuation. A number of methodological limitations in previous studies on attrition have been identified and are addressed in this study. A preliminary picture of attrition within this school is established and the validity of the data examined. The average attrition rate for the school over an 8-year period was 19%, which compares favourably with national rates. Data on students' leaving reasons were obtained through an exit-interview procedure; this achieved high response rates which for exceed those represented in previous studies. Academic difficulties and wrong career choice were among the most commonly reported leaving reasons; this is similar to findings from previous research. However family, health and financial difficulties emerge as equally important categories. The exit form facilitated the recording of multiple leaving reasons for each student, an innovative approach in attrition research. Almost half the students discontinued for at least two reasons; the interrelationships between leaving reasons and possible explanations for the findings are considered. The complexity of factors contributing to attrition are discussed and will be tackled in subsequent stages of the research programme.