Exploring veteran and non-veteran nursing student satisfaction with life utilizing marginality and financial stress

The projected nursing shortage in the United States is 500,000 by 2030, and approximately 40,000 veterans who are attending nursing school in the United States can contribute to reducing this shortage. Nursing students experience numerous internal and external stressors during school which can contribute to high levels or anxiety, delayed graduation, or even dropout. This problem can ultimately have a negative effect on the number of nurses entering the workforce, worsening the shortage.

This study explored the concepts of financial stress, marginality, and satisfaction with life between veteran and non-veteran nursing students.

A cross-sectional survey design using multiple linear regression and Mann-Whitney U tests was conducted. Data were assessed for relationships, significance, and means. Demographics were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

The sample comprised 261 nursing students (n = 39 veterans and n = 222 non-veterans). Low financial stress was a significant predictor of satisfaction with life (SWL) in veterans while marginalization was not. There were no significant differences between groups in financial stress, marginality, or SWL. Veteran students were significantly more frequently male, unemployed, married, and reported lower income (p < .05).

The results of this study provide new information which can be utilized to develop systems promoting the success of both veteran and non-veteran nursing students.