Fatemeh Oskouie
Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS)
Title: Attrition among Iranian nursing students: A qualitative study
Biography
Biography: Fatemeh Oskouie
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: Attrition is a major challenge facing nursing students that results in substantial costs on the
education, health, and treatment systems across countries and can have an unwanted effect on the quality and quantity of health
services provided as well as on the health of citizens. The purpose of this study is to describe nursing students' perceptions
toward factors influencing attrition.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: A qualitative study conducted using a content analysis approach. Nineteen
undergraduate nursing students enrolled in the nursing bachelor program were recruited using purposive and snowball
sampling. In-depth face-to-face focus and group interviews and participant observation were used for data production.
Conventional content analysis approach utilized for analyzing.
Findings: In this study nursing students’ attrition factors were categorized into two themes: ‘before admission’ and ‘after
admission’. The obligation to choose to nurse in the National Entrance Exam, poor management in workforce provision and
improper supervision, the discrepancy between expectations and experiences, and being work abused in clinical training were
the main factors of attrition.
Conclusion & Significance: Authorities in education and practice sectors can use these findings to improve the quality of
clinical and theoretical education and to avoid nursing student attrition. This can be accomplished through an expansion in
network consciousness of the character of nursing, proficient administration of workforce arrangement and clear and succinct
supervision of exercises in both hypothetical and clinical fields.