The impact of personal and situational variables on career patterns among nurses from three types of educational programs.

Relationships between educational preparation and employment choices were investigated in a study of the career paths of nursing graduates from three types of educational programs: a community college diploma program, a generic baccalaureate program, and a postdiploma baccalaureate program. Selected personal and work-related correlates of career paths for the three groups also were explored. All available graduates for the years 1984 to 1990 from the three programs (n = 1,544) were sent a self-administered questionnaire. Data were collected concerning demographic variables, employment details, ongoing professional development, and level of satisfaction with nursing. Analysis of the data demonstrated clear variations in the career paths of the three groups of graduates, supporting the belief that the type of educational program does indeed have a steering effect on the subsequent career choices of these nurses.