SuTuRe study. Supporting Students to Return to study following course interruption

Abstract

Background

Pre-registration BSc Nursing education in the United Kingdom (UK) is renowned for being a challenging course due to its requirement for 2300 hours each for theoretical and practice-based learning. It is therefore inevitable that some students may need to interrupt their study at some point during the course. In many cases, these students do not return and leave the course which has an impact on the future nursing workforce.

Aims

To examine the reasons why pre-registration student nurses, interrupt their studies and consider ways to enable them to return successfully and complete the course.

Methods

The research project was based in one Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the Northwest region of the UK. Interrupted students due to return to study in semester 1 of the 22/23 academic year (n=95) were invited to participate in semi structured interviews.

Findings

The results of this study found that health, including mental health was the most dominant factor leading to the interruption of study for the students.

Conclusion

This research has led to the HEI introducing an improved support package for students. Alongside other recommendations it is hoped the changes will reduce attrition and lead to an improved interruption/return to study experience.