Graduate nurses in Northern Ireland: their career paths, aspirations and problems.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Graduate Career Paths

Background:

• The transition of nursing from a vocational to a graduate profession has been a significant development.
• Understanding the long-term career trajectories and perceptions of early nursing graduates is crucial for contemporary nursing education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the career paths, challenges, and aspirations of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Nursing graduates.
• To assess graduate nurses' perceptions of their professional status and experiences within the healthcare system.

Main Methods:

• A postal questionnaire survey was distributed to six cohorts of B.Sc. in Nursing graduates from the New University of Ulster (1975-1980).
• Data collected included career progression, job satisfaction, and experiences related to graduate status.

Main Results:

• Findings indicate a strong clinical orientation among nursing graduates, consistent with previous research.
• Graduate nurses reported mixed experiences, with some valuing their degree while others encountered prejudice and hostility.
• The majority of respondents expressed a commitment to a lifelong career in nursing.

Conclusions:

• Early B.Sc. in Nursing graduates largely pursued sustained careers in the profession.
• The professional identity and acceptance of graduate nurses were complex, influenced by both positive affirmation and negative bias.
• Further research into the evolving perceptions of nursing as a graduate profession is warranted.