Reflections on nursing as a career choice

AIM: The study sought to explore (1) reasons for choosing nursing as a career; (2) expectations, if any, of nursing; (3) whether those expectations had been realized; (4) how such expectations had been met or could be met. BACKGROUND: Nursing recruitment and retention are of central concern to health care. The Audit Commission have highlighted the costs of 'preventable' staff attrition and suggested that staff turnover may be minimized if staff policies reflected an understanding of the views and aspirations of staff. METHOD: A semi-structured interview survey was conducted with a quota sample of undergraduates attending one university (n = 40). Different course groups were represented. FINDINGS: Satisfaction of caring for people together with long-term desire to nurse emerged as important factors influencing career choice. Expectations included working in a caring team and having a satisfying career. Conflict experienced in the clinical setting, disappointment over the treatment of nurses and changes within the NHS and nursing were considered among the factors detracting from nursing as a career. CONCLUSION: Health care management must recognize issues of concern to nurses and develop policies which make nurses feel valued.