Workplace Preferences and Expectations of Nursing Students: Gender and Generational Differences

Area of Science:

• Healthcare research
• Nursing education
• Workforce development

Background:

• The global nursing shortage is a critical issue exacerbated by poor working conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Understanding nursing students' preferences and expectations is vital for workforce retention and job satisfaction.
• This study focuses on nursing students' perspectives on working environment dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nursing students' preferences and expectations regarding working environment dimensions.
• To analyze differences in these preferences and expectations by gender and generation.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study surveyed 1277 nursing students in Catalan universities.
• An online survey collected data on preferences and expectations using a 0-10 scale.
• Data were analyzed using R, with chi-square tests for group comparisons and Cronbach's alpha for reliability.

Main Results:

• A significant gap exists between nursing students' preferences and expectations for working environment dimensions.
• Preferences exceeded 80% in the high category (8-10) for all dimensions.
• Expectations remained below 50% in the high category across all dimensions.

Conclusions:

• A notable discrepancy exists between high student preferences and low expectations for work environment dimensions.
• Improving working conditions and recognition is crucial for stabilizing the nursing workforce.
• Addressing this gap can enhance nursing job satisfaction and retention.