Exploring the experiences and expectations of year 1 children's nursing students

Attrition among children's nursing students remains high despite the field of practice attracting large numbers of applicants. While previous studies have examined nursing students as a group, this study specifically examines the children's nursing student experience.

To explore the expectations and early experiences of children's nursing students.

A phenomenological approach was adopted. Four focus groups were conducted at the beginning and end of the first year of a three-year programme.

The students defined children's nursing by the age and needs of the client group. They had expected practice experience would solely be within the acute setting. The acquisition and confidence in undertaking psychomotor skills was of importance to this group of students.

The students' unmet expectations may have a negative effect on their experience of the programme and therefore potentially on their decision to continue on the programme.