Selection process for admission to an academic nursing programme - A meta-synthesis

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Professional Selection

Background:

• Student nurse selection is a long-standing debate, with poor nursing care linked to uncaring attitudes and inadequate training.
• International recruitment processes are evolving to incorporate values assessments, aligning with recommendations like the Francis Inquiry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize evidence on student nurse selection methods.
• To develop recommendations for nurse educators on holistic, integrative selection processes for first-year nursing students.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative meta-synthesis of evidence-based studies.
• Systematic identification and critical appraisal of qualitative articles using STARLITE principles and the CASP method.

Main Results:

• Fourteen qualitative articles were included in the review.
• Key themes identified were reliance on interviews, exploration of alternative selection methods, and the importance of specific attributes.
• A holistic admission process emerged as the most effective for selecting suitable student nurses.

Conclusions:

• Current student nurse selection processes vary widely.
• A holistic admission process is essential for identifying student nurses who exhibit caring attributes and are poised to deliver high-quality nursing care.