First year nursing students' experiences of social media during the transition to university: a focus group study

Social media platforms are useful for creating communities, which can then be utilised as a mean for supportive, professional and social learning.

To explore first year nursing student experiences with social media in supporting student transition and engagement into higher education.

Qualitative focus groups.

Ten 1st year Bachelor of Nursing students were included in three face-to-face focus groups. Data were analysed using qualitative thematic content analysis.

Three key themes emerged that illustrates the experiences of transition and engagement of first year student nurses using social media at university. (1) Facilitating familiarity and collaboration at a safe distance, (2) promoting independent learning by facilitating access to resources, and (3) mitigating hazards of social media.

This study has demonstrated the importance of social media in supporting informal peer-peer learning and support, augmenting online and offline relationships, and building professional identity as a nurse.