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Updated: May 2, 2026
Using Learning Outcome Measures to assess Doctoral Nursing Education
Published on: June 21, 2010
Why do student nurses want to be nurses?
Paula Crick1, Louise Perkinton2, Fiona Davies2
1School of Health, University of Derby.
Background:
Nursing became an all graduate entry profession in September 2013; this move and the publication of the Francis report have brought the debate around nurse education and nurses' capacity to care into sharper focus. There is much debate over what makes a good nurse and whether graduate nurses lack care and compassion.
Aim And Method:
We asked a cohort of pre-registration student nurses on the first day of their course about their motivations to join the profession, what being a nurse meant to them and which aspects of nursing they valued most.
Results:
The demographics of the degree student group were similar to those of diploma students. Reasons cited for entering the profession and views on the nurse's role showed that students' motivations and perceptions focused on nursing as a caring rather than a technical profession.
Discussion:
The characteristics of the degree students, their strong motivation to care and perception of nursing in altruistic terms contradict the media image of student nurses as being primarily academically, technically and career driven.
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