Indigenous Australians' participation in pre-registration tertiary nursing courses: a mixed methods study

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Nursing Education
• Indigenous Health

Background:

• Indigenous nurses are vital for culturally safe healthcare access for Indigenous populations.
• Improving Indigenous health outcomes necessitates a well-educated Indigenous nursing workforce.
• Significant disparities exist in health outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine enrollment, progression, and completion rates for Indigenous nursing students in Australia.
• To explore barriers to completion and identify success strategies from student and staff perspectives.
• To analyze the final phase of a mixed methods study, focusing on integration and interpretation.

Main Methods:

• A mixed methods study was conducted.
• Quantitative data on enrollment, progression, and completion rates were collected.
• Qualitative data on student and staff perceptions of barriers and success strategies were gathered.

Main Results:

• National average completion rates show a 28.3% disparity: 36.3% for Indigenous students versus 64.6% for non-Indigenous students.
• Identified barriers to completion align with previous research findings.
• Key success strategies include individual student attributes, academic awareness, strong relationships, institutional support, and community engagement.

Conclusions:

• Addressing the completion gap for Indigenous nursing students is crucial for improving Indigenous health.
• A multi-faceted approach encompassing individual, academic, institutional, and community factors is essential for student success.
• Effective strategies require tailored support and a deep understanding of Indigenous students' needs and contexts.