Academic and Employment Preferences of Nursing Students at the University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background/Objectives: It is well known that there are differences in the academic and employment preferences of nursing students once they have completed their undergraduate studies in nursing. These preferences are largely influenced by students’ affinity for certain thematic areas over others. Th...

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Main Authors: Andrea Ramos-Ramos, Claudio Alberto Rodríguez-Suárez, Candelaria de la Merced Díaz-González, José Verdú-Soriano, Miriam Berenguer-Pérez, Héctor González-de la Torre
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Nursing Reports
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/14/4/241
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author Andrea Ramos-Ramos
Claudio Alberto Rodríguez-Suárez
Candelaria de la Merced Díaz-González
José Verdú-Soriano
Miriam Berenguer-Pérez
Héctor González-de la Torre
author_facet Andrea Ramos-Ramos
Claudio Alberto Rodríguez-Suárez
Candelaria de la Merced Díaz-González
José Verdú-Soriano
Miriam Berenguer-Pérez
Héctor González-de la Torre
author_sort Andrea Ramos-Ramos
collection DOAJ
description Background/Objectives: It is well known that there are differences in the academic and employment preferences of nursing students once they have completed their undergraduate studies in nursing. These preferences are largely influenced by students’ affinity for certain thematic areas over others. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the employment and academic preferences of third- and fourth-year Nursing Degree students at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC). Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive observational study was conducted among nursing students across three campuses of the ULPGC (Canary Islands, Spain). An online questionnaire was used to collect various sociodemographic and academic variables, as well as preferences across ten thematic areas. Descriptive and bivariate inferential analyses were performed, along with a correlation analysis among the areas. Results: The areas of highest preference were “Emergency Nursing”, “General Nursing”, and “Family and Community Nursing”. The areas of lowest preference were “Other Areas (teaching, management, research)”, “Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing”, and “Geriatric Nursing”. Three clusters of closely correlated areas were identified: cluster 1 (Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, Emergency and Emergency Nursing and Operating Theatre and Anaesthesia Nursing), cluster 2 (Obstetric-Gynaecological Nursing–Midwifery, Paediatric Nursing and Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing) and cluster 3 (remaining areas). A significant proportion of students expressed intentions to pursue postgraduate studies. Conclusions: Strategies should be implemented to enhance students’ preferences in the areas of “Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing” and “Geriatric Nursing”, which are areas where there is a high demand for nurses. It is also necessary to increase their interest in research, management, and teaching. This study was not registered.
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spelling doaj-art-e3ca805ee94342b1ab2ac38d8d7ec27d2024-12-27T14:44:13ZengMDPI AGNursing Reports2039-439X2039-44032024-11-011443328334510.3390/nursrep14040241Academic and Employment Preferences of Nursing Students at the University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria: A Cross-Sectional StudyAndrea Ramos-Ramos0Claudio Alberto Rodríguez-Suárez1Candelaria de la Merced Díaz-González2José Verdú-Soriano3Miriam Berenguer-Pérez4Héctor González-de la Torre5Insular Maternal and Child University Hospital Complex of Gran Canaria, Canary Health Service, Avda Marítima del Sur, s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainNursing Department, Faculty of Healthcare Science, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Edificio Ciencias de la Salud, C/Blas Cabrera Felipe, s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainNursing Department, Faculty of Healthcare Science, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Edificio Ciencias de la Salud, C/Blas Cabrera Felipe, s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainDepartment of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine, Public Health and History of Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante (UA), 03690 Alicante, SpainDepartment of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine, Public Health and History of Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante (UA), 03690 Alicante, SpainNursing Department, Faculty of Healthcare Science, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Edificio Ciencias de la Salud, C/Blas Cabrera Felipe, s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainBackground/Objectives: It is well known that there are differences in the academic and employment preferences of nursing students once they have completed their undergraduate studies in nursing. These preferences are largely influenced by students’ affinity for certain thematic areas over others. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the employment and academic preferences of third- and fourth-year Nursing Degree students at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC). Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive observational study was conducted among nursing students across three campuses of the ULPGC (Canary Islands, Spain). An online questionnaire was used to collect various sociodemographic and academic variables, as well as preferences across ten thematic areas. Descriptive and bivariate inferential analyses were performed, along with a correlation analysis among the areas. Results: The areas of highest preference were “Emergency Nursing”, “General Nursing”, and “Family and Community Nursing”. The areas of lowest preference were “Other Areas (teaching, management, research)”, “Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing”, and “Geriatric Nursing”. Three clusters of closely correlated areas were identified: cluster 1 (Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, Emergency and Emergency Nursing and Operating Theatre and Anaesthesia Nursing), cluster 2 (Obstetric-Gynaecological Nursing–Midwifery, Paediatric Nursing and Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing) and cluster 3 (remaining areas). A significant proportion of students expressed intentions to pursue postgraduate studies. Conclusions: Strategies should be implemented to enhance students’ preferences in the areas of “Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing” and “Geriatric Nursing”, which are areas where there is a high demand for nurses. It is also necessary to increase their interest in research, management, and teaching. This study was not registered.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/14/4/241nursing educationnursing studentsprofession selectionprofessional competence
spellingShingle Andrea Ramos-Ramos
Claudio Alberto Rodríguez-Suárez
Candelaria de la Merced Díaz-González
José Verdú-Soriano
Miriam Berenguer-Pérez
Héctor González-de la Torre
Academic and Employment Preferences of Nursing Students at the University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria: A Cross-Sectional Study
Nursing Reports
nursing education
nursing students
profession selection
professional competence
title Academic and Employment Preferences of Nursing Students at the University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Academic and Employment Preferences of Nursing Students at the University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Academic and Employment Preferences of Nursing Students at the University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Academic and Employment Preferences of Nursing Students at the University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_short Academic and Employment Preferences of Nursing Students at the University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort academic and employment preferences of nursing students at the university of las palmas of gran canaria a cross sectional study
topic nursing education
nursing students
profession selection
professional competence
url https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/14/4/241
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