Developing the children's nursing workforce: profile, first jobs and future plans of newly qualified diplomates

Concerns regarding the number of children's nurses persist despite initiatives designed to reverse this trend. Recruiting and retaining a diverse nursing workforce is high on the policy agenda, particularly since the publication of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services. This article reports findings from the first phase of a longitudinal study investigating the careers of child branch diplomates, focusing on the cohort's profile, first jobs and future plans. Findings suggest there is considerable scope to increase diversity in the children's nursing workforce. Child health diplomates indicate little sign of early attrition from nursing at qualification. Continuing professional development is a high priority for many child health nurses at the outset of their careers. These findings provide an important benchmark for later stages of child branch nurses' careers.