How often do high school guidance counselors suggest practical nursing as a career option?

The Centre for Nursing Studies provides practical nursing education in Newfoundland and Labrador. Because applications to the program from direct high school students were consistently low, in 1999 the Centre for Nursing Studies surveyed the provincial high school guidance counselors to determine their perceived knowledge level of the roles and responsibilities of Licensed Practical Nurses and the practical nursing program, the number of times they suggested practical nursing to students and characteristics they believed to be necessary for a practical nurse. There were 168 questionnaires distributed. Fifty (30%) returned questionnaires were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the majority of guidance counselors (66%) receive between 1 to 5 requests for information regarding practical nursing annually. Forty-eight percent suggest practical nursing as a career option 1 to 5 times annually, while an additional 22% suggest it 6 to 10 times. Some of the characteristics identified, by the guidance counselors, to be necessary for practical nurses include good people skills, empathy, hard working, good communication skills, a desire to help others and an interest in health care.