Investing in healthcare professionals. The motivation for enrollment in bachelor nursing courses: results from a pilot study

Abstract

Understanding the reasons for enrolling in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSc Nursing) is crucial for devising strategies to stimulate enrollment and counteract the current decline in applications. A multi-center longitudinal study was initiated to explore motivations for enrollment and dropout rates. The results of the pilot study focusing on enrollment motives are presented. To identify the reasons for enrolling in BSc Nursing programs at five Italian universities. First-year BSc Nursing students enrolled in the academic year 2022-2023 completed an online questionnaire exploring socio-demographic and personal information, priority criteria for their choice, information sources, and the following reasons for enrolling (Likert scale 1-5): altruistic motivations, personal interests, preferences, past experiences, job security, advice, fallback options, and the social image of nursing. 759 questionnaires were analyzed (78% of those involved). 64.7% of the students indicated nursing as their first choice, while one-third enrolled as a fallback option, by chance, or because they were uncertain. Altruism was the primary motivation for enrollment (91.8%), but 74.2% of students enrolled to secure a good job or to pursue a career (52.3%), or due to curriculum counseling sessions (13.7%). Some differences were observed between geographical areas. Students primarily enroll in BSc Nursing programs due to altruism, personal experience, and job prospect. These findings may be valuable for guiding and tailoring information campaigns, and for enhancing the appeal of nursing courses.