Evaluation of an intervention package developed to reduce pre-registration nursing student attrition rates: A mixed method study.

BACKGROUND

Higher educational institutions strive to recruit and retain student nurses into pre-registration programmes to support a sustainable nursing workforce. Attrition rates for student nurses are high and escalating, with around one in three nursing students in the United Kingdom failing to complete their degree programmes. Risk factors for student attrition include the attributes students bring to their study environment, as well as their behaviours and academic outputs. Modern learning analytics engagement tool can monitor attrition risk through tracking students as they engage with learning resources and other institutional opportunities.

AIM

To evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention package aimed at reducing pre-registration nursing student attrition rates at a Higher Education Institute in South East England.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Our mixed methods study design had three phases. Phase 1: design of an intervention package and its planned implementation. Phase 2: piloted the intervention with 1198 student nurses. Phase 3: semi-structured interviews with five student nurses.

RESULTS

The learning analytics engagement tool was able to identify 144 students who were struggling and/or disengaging with their academic studies. 17 % (n = 24) students responding to the initial email contact. Of these 24 students, 67 % (n = 16) did not want a meeting with the Intervention Officer, who they were unfamiliar with, and only one attended a meeting.

CONCLUSION

Our evaluation of the effectiveness of an intervention package in reducing pre-registration nursing student attrition rates revealed valuable insights. Findings revealed that a lack of trusting relationships with intervention facilitators is likely to diminish engagement with such interventions.