Career guidance for student nurses: an unmet need.

Career guidance is important both organizationally and for the individual, especially at a time of re-emerging concerns about retention, and increasing complexity of nursing careers due to rapidly changing systems of health care provision. A questionnaire survey of 1015 newly qualified registered general nurses explored their experiences of career guidance whilst students, in relation to three areas: . applying for first post . taking post-basic courses . longer term plans. Findings revealed that few students were provided with guidance. Furthermore, a substantial unmet need was demonstrated, especially in relation to discussions about individual career planning.