Perspectives of heads of nursing studies in Croatia about students’ motivation to enroll in the master of nursing program despite uncertainty about future salary and status: a qualitative study

In Croatia, the great majority of Master of Nursing (MN) graduates do not receive a salary increase or improved working position in public healthcare institutions upon graduation. Thus, it is unclear what are students' motives for enrolling in MN studies and how institutions address that uncertainty. To explore the perspectives of heads of MN studies in Croatia about students' motives to enroll in the MN program despite high uncertainty about future salary and status. A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews was conducted among heads of all MN studies in Croatia. We included 18/21 heads of MN studies in Croatia. Participants indicated that the main students' motives for enrollment in MN studies were personal and career development and optimism regarding recognition in the future. They reported that MN students were often drawn to particular programs, the university's location, academic standards, and tuition fees. Their perception was that MN graduates acquire specific knowledge and various competencies that should open up new possibilities for them in their future careers. Participants acknowledged current difficulties for MN graduates in the labor market, and the discrepancy between the competencies that master's studies provide and the needs of the workplace. They pointed out that establishing specialized MN programs could be a potential solution for faster acknowledgment of nurses' competencies and much-desired validation of their MN degrees. According to the heads of MN studies in Croatia, students were optimistic when enrolling in MN studies, hoping that eventually their degree would be recognized in the public healthcare system and that MN studies were a worthwhile investment in their future. Solutions were proposed to ensure that MN degrees will be recognized in the public healthcare system in the future.