Careers in child health nursing: the influence of course experiences

Findings presented in this paper are drawn from a longitudinal study of nurses' careers (Robinson et al 1998, 1999). As part of this study, a large cohort of child branch diplomates were asked about their clinical experience while on the course and its effects on their initial work plans. For 12 of the 23 specialties listed, more than half of the 634 respondents felt that they did not have sufficient experience to comment. Findings indicate that there were five specialties which more than half of those who had experience during the course felt encouraged to work in: general paediatrics (73 per cent), community (63 per cent), oncology (60 per cent), PICU (59 per cent), and cardiac (53 per cent). Overall, course experiences were more likely to encourage than discourage diplomates from wanting to work in a particular specialty; this was the case for 19 of the 23 specialties. Course experiences were significantly more likely to have discouraged than encouraged diplomates from considering working in theatres and psychiatry. Seventy-seven per cent of respondents (417) had obtained a first job in their preferred clinical specialty. Findings from this study indicate that course experiences influence the initial career plans of child branch diplomates. Data obtained from further phases of this longitudinal study will indicate to what extent course experiences influence later career decisions.