Career Intentions Of Students Research Articles

Getting in touch with paramedic student career intentions

Objective: This study of paramedic and nursing/paramedic students aimed to determine the initial career intentions of full-time paramedic students and to identify the key factors that influence their career choices. Design: A longitudinal study design, utilizing surveys and a focus group, was employed. Setting: The study was conducted in an Australian regional university with a large, on-campus paramedic programme. Method: Students were surveyed to ascertain the factors that shape their preferences for employment and a focus group was conducted with final year students to further investigate the responses. Respondents were asked to nominate their preferences for employment and identify key factors that influence their decision-making. Data were analysed using inferential statistics and textual analysis. Results: There were 508 questionnaires returned from 704 paramedic students (72 per cent response rate). Of the respondents 82 per cent were originally from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, the balance from other States/Territories and overseas. Students’ career intentions did not necessarily follow their place of origin with 58 per cent preferring New South Wales or the Australian Capital Territory, 17 per cent Victoria, 3.5 per cent other States, and 7 per cent indicating other employers. The identified influences on student career intentions were personal (53 per cent), professional (20 per cent), organizational (8 per cent), and community factors (3 per cent). Conclusion: Potential employers need to address graduate needs if they expect to attract the most talented graduates. Universities educating paramedics should focus on the needs of students and the profession.

The factors influencing accounting school students' career intention to become a Certified Public Accountant in Japan

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors influencing career intentions toward becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) by students who are studying at the accounting schools in Japan. This paper focused on students' work experience, prior major/s at their undergraduate level, gender, attitude toward the opportunity cost of becoming a CPA and their perceptions of the CPA profession.Design/methodology/approachThe sample comprised students studying at 13 accounting schools in Japan. A questionnaire was given to these students in order to empirically examine the relationship between these influential factors and their career intention, with particular reference to those who intended to pursue a CPA career. Those studying in these accounting schools generally consist of two type of students; those who want to become a CPA and those who merely want to brush up on their accounting skills and do not wish to sit the CPA entrance exams. A total of 349 effective responses were analysed.FindingsFindings indicate that students who have work experience and major in disciplines other than accounting or business are more reluctant to become a CPA. This is in direct contrast to one of the objectives for the CPA reform scheme in Japan, which is to extend the diversity of CPA candidature.Originality/valueThis paper is the first study undertaken in Japan to successfully provide a new dimension on the factors that influence career intention of students aspiring to become a CPA.

Elders of America… Who will care?: Nurses who have been exposed to clinical and classroom gerontologic components in their basic education, taught by faculty with very positive attitudes toward aging, may be the answer

Worldwide, nursing students have reported a preference for working in intensive care, paediatrics, and operating theatres after graduation, disregarding psychiatry and geriatrics. Many factors can influence student choices. Educators need to know students' preferences and influencing factors in order to plan appropriate interventions to orient future nurses towards the clinical areas that are most in need of trained and motivated nurses.To identify career preferences and student-related factors that influence the career intentions of students attending Italian nursing schools.A cross sectional design.The study was conducted in 14 Italian nursing schools.Students enrolled on a three-year undergraduate nursing program were invited to participate.A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data and clinical area preferences. A multivariate binary logistic regression was performed to identify the student characteristics influencing career choices.1534 students were enrolled in the study. Students preferred working in paediatrics, emergency departments and operating theatres, and these preferences were consistent in all of the three years. Psychiatry and geriatrics were the clinical areas least preferred in all the three years. Age, gender, nationality, and university attended were the factors that predicted students' preferences for specific clinical areas.In line with international literature, students attending Italian nursing schools expressed preferences for working in some clinical areas and to disregard others. Nursing curricula and internships need to be reviewed in terms of declared and hidden curriculum in order to enable students to view all areas of practice as equally valuable.