How Entering Students View Nursing as a Profession After COVID-19: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Workforce Studies
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of nurses, yet the profession now faces a significant staffing crisis.
• Despite public admiration during the pandemic, attracting and retaining nurses remains a challenge.
• Understanding the motivations of aspiring nurses is crucial for addressing workforce shortages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the perceptions and motivations of first-semester nursing students regarding the nursing profession.
• To identify key themes influencing students' decisions to enter nursing school post-pandemic.
• To provide insights for nursing schools to enhance recruitment and retention strategies.

Main Methods:

• A phenomenological study was conducted with 15 incoming first-semester nursing students.
• Verbatim transcripts of student interviews were analyzed using qualitative methods.
• Thematic analysis identified recurring concepts in students' perceptions of nursing.

Main Results:

• Three primary themes emerged: Vicarious Pride, Raw Gratitude, and Help Is Coming.
• Vicarious Pride reflects students' positive feelings about the nursing profession's societal role.
• Raw Gratitude and Help Is Coming indicate a strong desire to contribute and support others.

Conclusions:

• The identified themes can inform nursing school recruitment and motivational strategies.
• Leveraging concepts like pride and gratitude may attract more students to the nursing profession.
• This research offers valuable perspectives on nursing student motivation in the post-pandemic era.