The recruitment crisis in nursing: placing Irish psychiatric nursing in context--a review

There is a decline in recruitment to pre-registration programmes in psychiatric nursing in Ireland. This article discusses factors that may relate to the Irish situation in the context of relevant international literature on nurse recruitment. It is noted that disciplines and courses in Ireland, such as social care, that engage in similar work to that of psychiatric nurses do not suffer from such a shortage of applicants. Whilst it is difficult to account for this difference, a number of factors identified from the literature are discussed. The need to highlight differences with general nursing and the importance of career guidance are seen as important in overcoming prejudices and stereotypes. From a review of the literature it appears that studies dedicated to recruitment to psychiatric nursing alone are notable by their paucity, and absent in the case of Ireland. Therefore, the available literature fails to fully explain the fall in psychiatric nurse recruitment compared to the robust recruitment position of social care. It is argued that dedicated research on recruitment to psychiatric nursing within an Irish setting is needed if a sustainable recruitment policy is to be implemented to reverse the long-term decline in recruitment.     

The perceptions of high school careers advisers regarding nursing: an Australian study

Effective promotion of nursing as a career to high school students can potentially have a positive impact on the shortage of nurses. This study identified the perceptions of high school careers advisers of the Bachelor of Nursing program as a career choice, their perceptions of the attributes and characteristics necessary for nurses, and their perceptions of nurses' roles and responsibilities. These perceptions have not been previously identified in Australia and may not have been adequately considered in the planning of recruitment and retention strategies for nursing. The study findings suggest that careers advisers recognise the complexity of nursing practice in providing direct patient care and the range of attributes required for the registered nurse who provides this care. Careers advisers recognised that nursing had changed over the past ten years, although few perceived the roles and responsibilities of nurses to extend beyond activities related to patient care. There were few requests for information about nursing as a career from careers advisers and the findings indicates that they do not actively promote nursing as a career. This suggests that despite a range of initiatives to promote registered nursing as a career choice, careers advisers are not influencing significant numbers of school students to consider registered nursing as career.     

Promoting nursing and midwifery as a potential career for school leavers

Changes to nurse education and the shortage of nurses and midwives in the NHS are likely to affect recruitment to nursing and midwifery professions in Jersey. The Health and Social Services Department in Jersey will face a significant challenge in recruiting experienced nurses and midwives in the future. In an attempt to address the problem, an innovative approach has been developed to encourage school leavers to consider a career in nursing or midwifery. The aim is to increase students' understanding of the diverse roles that exist in this field. Students are offered the opportunity to meet and interact with practitioners from a variety of nursing and midwifery roles.     

Recruiting middle school students into nursing: An integrative review

Middle school students interested in nursing need clarification of the nursing role. Students choose nursing as a career because they want to help others, yet they are often unaware of the need to for arduous secondary education preparation to become a nurse. Middle school students, if not properly exposed to the career during their formative years, may choose another career or not have enough time for adequate nursing school preparation. This integrative review examined seven studies from years 2007 to 2016, which utilized various recruitment strategies to increase the awareness of nursing as a career in middle school and address the need for academic rigor. Implications of the review: there is a need for collaboration between nurses and school counselors to design more robust longitudinal studies of middle school interventions for students interested in nursing as a career.     

Sophmore High School Students'' Perceptions of Ideal and Nursing Career Choices

To increase the number of practicing nurses, high school students must be attracted to nursing as a career. This study compares sophomore high school students' perceptions of an ideal career with their perceptions of nursing as a career. Differences are identified and potential recruitment solutions suggested.     

High school students' perceptions of nursing as a career choice

Declining enrollments in nursing programs, coupled with the current shortage of practicing registered nurses, prompted this investigation of 306 high school students' beliefs about nurses and nursing. The study also identifies potential numbers of future nursing students from high school populations and their primary source of information about nursing. Using an investigator questionnaire, subjects responded to statements about educational requirements for registered nurses along with their working conditions, earning power, and social status. Findings reveal a projected continuing shortage of nurses based on the very small percentage of subjects even considering nursing as a career. Additional findings show that whereas some perceptions about nursing seem congruent with those of nurses themselves, other beliefs held by high school students are not consistent with the realities of professional nursing today. Results of this study can be used by nurse recruiters to correct misconceptions about nursing and to help high school students perceive the profession in a more positive way. Expanding the informational sources about nursing can facilitate the recruitment process.     

Nursing students' career preferences: a Norwegian study

AIM: This paper is a report of a study to identify Norwegian undergraduate nursing students' career preferences at the beginning and end of their nursing education programme, together with their reasons for these preferences. BACKGROUND: International studies have shown that recruitment and retention of nurses in areas such as aged care and psychiatric nursing is difficult. It is important to know why some working areas are popular whilst others are not, so that nursing schools produce graduates who meet the needs of the community. METHODS: All students starting their nursing education programme in 2001/2002 in five Norwegian university colleges were invited to complete questionnaires at the beginning and end of their nursing education programme. In phase 1, 620 of 782 commencing students completed questionnaires (response rate 79.2%). In their third year, phase 2, 473 questionnaires were distributed (response rate 82.6%, n = 386). The questionnaire included closed questions about career preferences and open-ended questions seeking the reasons for the preferences. RESULTS: The study revealed changes in preferences between the beginning and the end of the nursing education programme. In phase 1, midwifery and paediatric nursing were ranked highest and in phase 2 working in medical/surgical ward, midwifery and psychiatric nursing were preferred. Working in aged care institutions remained unpopular throughout. Clinical experiences and professional challenges were often given as reasons for preferences. CONCLUSION: Nursing educators, clinical nurses and policymakers must reconsider their priorities and improve working conditions for nurses in aged care in order to meet society's need for nurses.     

Enhancing student comfort in psychiatric clinical settings

Fear, anxiety, and negative attitudes have decreased the popularity of psychiatric nursing as a career choice among nursing students. Nursing faculty is faced with the challenge of reducing nursing student fear and anxiety, as well as changing the negative attitudes of student nurses entering the psychiatric clinical settings to positive ones. This article provides strategies for enhancing student comfort in the psychiatric clinical setting, which can lead to an increase in psychiatric nursing as a career option.     

Introducing student nurses to critical care: shadow a critical care nurse

The lack of student experience in critical care makes it difficult for graduate nurses to anticipate what expectations and demands might confront them in intensive care. Consequently, some new graduates discounted critical care as an opportunity available to them. Our institution believed that critical care had special qualities and if those qualities could be demonstrated to nurses, recruitment would improve. An unexpected benefit from the program was the positive staff nurse response to showcasing their skills and expertise. The success of the program was evidenced by the student evaluations and the hiring of students. To date, seven nursing students out of 20 who attended the program have been hired by the hospital. The long-term impact of the program on retention and recruitment is difficult to predict. The department will track these students, as they do all new hires; however, the initial success warranted continuation of the program. Student response to the program has resulted in plans to expand the "shadow a nurse" concept housewide to showcase the nursing specialities such as rehabilitation, maternal/child health, oncology, orthopedics, chemical dependency, and critical care. Current planning involves designing a program aimed toward high school students, with the goal of encouraging young people to consider nursing as a career.     

Evaluation of a forensic psychiatric setting to provide a graduate nurse programme

There has been growth in the number and diversity of models of Australian graduate nurse programmes in psychiatric nursing. Programmes have also been established in specialist areas, and evidence is needed regarding best models of graduate nurse programmes and the ability of specialist areas to prepare nurses for psychiatric nursing. This paper reports on a qualitative project that examined the adequacy of a forensic psychiatric hospital to provide a graduate nurse programme. Individual, semistructured interviews were undertaken with nurses participating in the programme, and nurses who had completed the programme and had remained at the hospital or were nursing in other areas. Participants identified that the environment was safe and supportive of professional practice and development, and that skilled nurses were willing to encourage and teach graduates. Processes such as orientation, preceptorship and academic study were appreciated; however, their colleagues' willingness to be available, to teach, and to support were more valued. Participants reported that they felt confident and prepared as psychiatric nurses. Although limitations of undertaking a graduate nurse programme in a forensic setting were identified, the participants from past programmes who had gone on to work in other services did not report that their nursing careers had been disadvantaged. It can be concluded that as long as the context of the programme has adequate resources to support and assist graduates to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes of psychiatric nursing, then the specialist nature may not be a limitation.     

Recruiting middle school students into nursing.

The purpose of this literature review is to illustrate the importance of initiating nursing recruitment during the middle school years. Data sources included citations from the years 1989 to 2006. The study focused on middle school students 9 to 13 years of age in Grades 6 to 8. One survey compared middle school students' perceptions of an ideal career and a career in nursing. Other studies discussed interventions such as nursing camps, recruitment videos, presentations, and handouts. After the intervention, the studies found statistically significant increases in the desire of middle school students to consider or make nursing their career choice. One strategy for addressing future nursing shortages might be the implementation of recruitment efforts targeting middle school students.     

Student nurses' experience of interaction with culturally diverse psychiatric patients

A study of Baccalaureate nursing students was conducted to explore and describe undergraduate nursing students' experience of interaction with culturally diverse psychiatric patients. Thirty-seven nursing students participated in this research project. Sixteen of the students came from a predominantly black university and the other twenty-one students came from a predominantly white university. Both universities are situated in the same city and allocate their nursing students to the same psychiatric hospital for practical experience. The student nurses reported having experienced both positive and negative aspects of interacting with culturally diverse psychiatric patients. Positive aspects included inter alia, optimism, racial unity, equality of facilities, enrichment and challenge, whereas negative experience included inter alia, discrimination, superiority complex, cultural ignorance, ineffectiveness of patient care, hostility and general unhappiness. The undergraduate program should therefore begin to include cultural content in the curriculum so as to enable future nurse practitioners to utilize a culture-sensitive approach in rendering care to their patients.     

Employment through residency programs: a strategy to address the workforce crisis in psychiatric nursing

Australia, like most countries in the world, is facing a crisis regarding the recruitment and retention of nurses. This situation is particularly notable for psychiatric nursing, a specialty not generally popular among undergraduate nursing students. To date, the nursing literature has tended to identify the problem, with less attention to the exploration of possible solutions. The aim of this article is to explore the literature concerning residency programs for nursing students. Although limited, the literature suggests potential benefits to this program, including improvements in competency and confidence, resulting in reduced need for lengthy orientation for new graduates and overall improvements in recruitment and retention rates for psychiatric nurses. In conclusion, residency programs for undergraduate nursing students could provide a useful strategy to improve the image of psychiatric nursing and attract new graduates. Further research is required to assess the applicability of this model in Australia.     

Babies and machines that go ‘beep’: First‐year nursing students’ preferred areas of future practice

Students of nursing enter their programmes of study with preconceived ideas of what a career in their chosen profession will entail. The literature suggests that images from the media and past experiences contribute to these perceptions. Although it is positive images of the profession that will usually attract an individual to a career in nursing, often more negative perceptions will direct students away from potentially rewarding areas of specialization. This paper describes career projections of nursing students enrolled in the first year of four preservice nursing programmes at the rural campus of one Australian university. Part of a larger study, the data reported here indicate that most respondents intend to practice in the areas of midwifery, paediatrics and emergency nursing. Oncology, community nursing, aged care and mental health nursing all ranked poorly across three rounds of surveys. These findings have implications for practicing nurses and nurse educators who seek to dispel inaccurate images of these important specializations.     

What do high school guidance counselors really think of nursing?

With the increasing nursing shortage, it is imperative that nursing programs attract and retain students who will be successful in becoming competent, caring practitioners. High school guidance counselors can influence the career choices of students. To do so, these professionals must have an accurate understanding of the attributes that will facilitate a career in nursing, as well as the changing roles of nurses. This study determined the current perceptions of high school guidance counselors regarding nursing. Overall, guidance counselors had realistic perceptions of nursing and identified personal and cognitive attributes of students that would promote success in nursing. However, nurses involved in the recruitment of students need to ensure that guidance counselors have more accurate perceptions of the changing role of nurses, opportunities for practice outside hospital settings, and the importance of problem-solving abilities and leadership skills for nurses.