Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Jun 22:17:27.
doi: 10.1186/s12912-018-0296-9. eCollection 2018.

Physical and mental determinants of dropout and retention among nursing students: protocol of the SPRiNG cohort study

Ellen J M Bakker #  1   2 , Jos H A M Kox #  1   3 , Harald S Miedema  1 , Sita Bierma-Zeinstra  3   4 , Jos Runhaar  3 , Cécile R L Boot  2 , Allard J van der Beek  2 , Pepijn D D M Roelofs  1   3
Affiliations

Physical and mental determinants of dropout and retention among nursing students: protocol of the SPRiNG cohort study

Ellen J M Bakker et al. BMC Nurs. .

Abstract

Background: The shortage of nursing professionals is of growing concern. The causes of this include the demanding physical and mental workload, leading to a dropout of nurses that may start during their education. However, it is unclear to what extent nursing students already perceive a physical and mental workload leading to health problems during their nursing education and placement, and to what extent these health problems cause students to dropout from nursing education. Very few prospective cohort studies have investigated protective and risk factors in relation to dropout and retention among nursing students.

Methods: Three cohorts of third-year nursing students will be followed for 2.5 years. Students will be enrolled from the Bachelor of Nursing program of the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. At baseline, students will receive a self-administered questionnaire. Primary outcome is dropout from nursing education and dropout from the nursing profession. Data on dropout from nursing education will be retrieved from the student administration on a yearly basis. Dropout from the nursing profession will be measured one year after graduation, using the self-reported questionnaire. Secondary outcomes are presenteeism and sick leave (during internship/work). In addition to student characteristics, the questionnaire asks about physical and mental internship/work characteristics, personal and behavioral factors, and experienced physical and mental burden.Main aims of this study are to determine: 1) the prevalence and incidence rates of dropout, 2) the protective and risk factors, and early indicators of dropout, and 3) the interaction between these factors and the indicators.

Discussion: Data analysis of a large, prospective cohort study with regard to determinants of dropout and retention of nursing students and newly graduated nurses is in progress. Findings emerging from this study can be used to develop a predictive model to identify the first indicators of dropout from nursing education and nursing profession, for which targeted interventions can be deployed.

Keywords: Attrition; Cohort study; Distress; Dropout; Engagement; Musculoskeletal complaints; Nursing students; Physical activity; Sickness absence; Work-related determinants.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

This study will be conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, 64th World Medical Association General Assembly, Fortaleza, Brazil, October 2013, and in accordance with the Dutch Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act. The Medical Ethical Review Committee of the Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam approved the study (MEC number: FMS/sl/273789). The study complies with the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Scientific Practice from the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU). Participants will be informed about the study orally and in writing, before being approached for participation. Consent for participation will be given by written informed consent.Not applicable.All authors declare that they have no competing interests.Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Timeline of the SPRiNG cohort study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Flowchart of recruitment, study procedures and the expected response
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Clark PF, Stewart JB, Clark DA. The globalization of the labour market for health-care professionals. Int Labour Rev. 2006. 10.1111/j.1564-913X.2006.tb00009.x.
    1. CBS. Zorg; werkgelegenheid, beroepen in zorg en welzijn, zorgaanbieders. 2017. https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/83738NED/table?ts=1529.... Accessed 15 June 2018.
    1. van der Velden L, Batenburg R. FZO-onderzoek 2016: Ramingsrapport [FZO-research 2016: estimate report] Utrecht: Capaciteitsorgaan/NIVEL; 2016.
    1. Capaciteitsorgaan. Capaciteitsplan 2016. Voor de medische, klinisch technologische, geestelijke gezondheid, FZO en aanverwante (vervolg)opleidingen. [Capacityplan 2016. For medical, klinical technological, mental health, FZO and related education]. Utrecht: Stichting Capaciteitsorgaan voor Medische en Tandheelkundige Vervolgopleidingen; 2016.
    1. Eurostat. Health care personnel statistics - nursing and caring professionals. 2017. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Healthcare_p.... Accessed 1 Nov 2017.

LinkOut - more resources