Learning styles of nursing students and career choices

Kolb's 'Learning Style Inventory' was used to examine learning characteristics of incoming nursing students (n = 166) which were then compared to those of more advanced nursing students (n = 102). A majority of students were found to have concrete learning styles. Advanced students had a greater incidence of concrete learning styles than first year students suggesting increasing concreteness with exposure to nursing education. Diploma students were found to have a higher incidence of concrete learning styles than university students. Students with concrete learning styles were more influenced by person-oriented factors in career choices than those with abstract learning styles. No relationship was found between learning style and preferred nursing specialty. Implications for nursing education are discussed.