Deciding to pursue nurse education: sources of information, influence and encouragement

Current concerns about a shortage of nurses means attention may again be focusing on recruitment strategies. This paper presents findings on aspects of the decision to take nurse training, and contributes to available information upon which recruitment strategies can be formulated. Questionnaires were sent to 1164 registered general nurses shortly after qualification; this represented the first phase of a longitudinal study of these nurses' careers. Participants were asked about the effect of the following on their decision to take nurse training: written information about nursing; discussions with staff of educational institutions; personal involvement in health care work or caring activities, and having relatives qualified in health care. Findings for the 87% who returned the questionnaire, showed that respondents were more likely to report that these events had a positive than a negative effect on their decision. Participants were also asked how encouraging educational staff, careers staff, family and friends had been about their decision to take nurse training. The implications of the findings for those responsible for nurse recruitment are discussed.