"Juggling many balls": Working and studying among first-year nursing students

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Student Well-being
• Workforce Development

Background:

• Increasing global trend of students balancing full-time study and paid employment.
• Financial necessity is a primary driver for students engaging in paid work.
• Understanding student experiences is crucial for supporting diverse student populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of first-year nursing students engaged in paid work.
• To identify student motivations for working alongside their studies.
• To understand how students manage study, work, and personal commitments.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative exploratory study design.
• In-depth interviews with 50 first-year undergraduate nursing and midwifery students.
• Thematic analysis of interview data following COREQ guidelines.

Main Results:

• Students worked primarily for financial security and personal time ('me time').
• The theme 'Juggling many balls' highlights perceived benefits and challenges of balancing multiple commitments.
• Students reported positive outcomes such as a sense of achievement and improved self-esteem.

Conclusions:

• Financial reasons are key, but work also offers social and health benefits, acting as an 'escape'.
• Developing multi-tasking and prioritization skills through work is beneficial for nursing practice.
• Paid employment can foster financial independence and enhance self-worth in nursing students.