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Barriers and enablers to retention of Aboriginal Diploma of Nursing students in Western Australia: An exploratory descriptive study
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Barriers and enablers to retention of Aboriginal Diploma of Nursing students in Western Australia: An exploratory descriptive study

S. Slatyer, J. Cramer, J.D. Pugh and D.E. Twigg
Nurse Education Today, Vol.42, pp.17-22
2016
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Abstract

Background Nursing education appropriate to the learning needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students is essential to prepare them for registration as nurses. Despite incentives to encourage the recruitment and retention of such students, a disproportionate number commence but do not finish their nursing studies. Objectives To describe the barriers and enablers to the retention of Aboriginal students in a Diploma of Nursing course (Enrolled/Division 2) in Western Australia. Design An exploratory descriptive design was used. Settings One metropolitan educational facility catering for Aboriginal people offering an 18-month course in a block release format. Participants A convenience sample of 16 students aged 18 + years. Methods Newly enrolled students (n = 10) participated in an investigator-developed survey to explore their motivation for entering the course. Nine of these students and a further seven students who were nearing the end of their course participated in focus groups to explore their experiences of nursing education. Results Survey respondents had a mean age of 32.7 years; most were female, had nominated family as influential in the decision to enroll, and commenced with a friend. Regarding recruitment and retention, the qualitative data highlighted the importance of students': perceptions of the training organisation, characteristics, experiences of nursing education, and sources of support. Conclusions Strategies that develop individual's resilience and engage supportive networks can assist Aboriginal students to negotiate tertiary nursing study. Academic skills assessments supplemented with tailored educational support at entry can resource students to navigate increasingly complex course content. Flexibility throughout the course enables students to negotiate study in a context of ongoing family and financial obligations.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#10 Reduced Inequalities

Source: InCites

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.156 Healthcare Policy
1.156.436 Health Inequities
Web Of Science research areas
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Nursing
ESI research areas
Clinical Medicine
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