Pre-registration paid employment practices of undergraduate nursing students: A scoping review

This article presents findings from a scoping review that sought to highlight what is known about pre-registration paid employment practices of undergraduate nursing students.

Researchers have identified large numbers of undergraduate nursing students engaging in paid employment. This review was prompted by our interest in the different employment choices that students make and whether these choices have any impact on transition to practice.

A scoping review was designed to map the existing evidence base on undergraduate student nurse employment practices. Scoping reviews support the identification of a broad range of literature, which encompasses all types of study design.

Utilising key search terms, databases searched included MEDLINE, CINAHL, Psych INFO, EMBASE, SCOPUS, SCIRUS, Joanna Briggs Institute, Web of Science, Informit Health and the Cochrane database.

We utilised Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage approach: identifying the research question; identifying relevant studies; study selection; charting the data; and collating, summarising and reporting the results. Based on the research question, relevant literature was selected which was reported in accordance with Arksey and O'Malley's framework.

The scoping review identified 40 articles that explored the nature of undergraduate student nurse paid employment activity. Highlighted themes included: reasons for engaging in paid employment; specific paid employment models; paid employment and academic performance, and paid employment choice and transition to graduate practice.

The review highlighted a lack of studies detailing the relationship between paid employment and transition to graduate nurse practice, particularly those studies situated within the hospitality sector.