Research

FACTORS INFLUENCING FIRST YEAR NURSING STUDENTS’ CAREER
CHOICE AT A UNIVERSITY IN THE WESTERN CAPE
NIBAGWIRE JEANNE D’ARC
STUDENT NUMBER: 3200087
A MINITHESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIRE-

MENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER (NURSING EDUCATION) IN THE
SCHOOL OF NURSING, FACULTY OF COMMUNITY AND HEALTH SCI-
ENCES, UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE
SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR JENNIFER CHIPPS
CO -SUPERVISOR: DR ARONA DISON
SEPTEMBER, 2019
http://etd.uwc.ac.za/
Abstract
Background: The nursing profession is the backbone of the healthcare system glob-
ally. However, due to the ongoing shortage of nurses there is a growing demand for
nurses across the world. This demand puts pressure on the continued recruitment of
new nursing students. The factors that influence students’ reasons for entering nursing
vary and require investigation to improve recruitment practices.
Aim: This study aims to investigate the factors influencing first-year nursing students’
choice of a nursing career at a university in the Western Cape. The objectives of this
study were (a) to identify first-year nursing students’ prior exposure to nursing, (b) to
determine the association between the demographic characteristics and intrinsic (per-
sonal) as well as extrinsic (environmental) factors that influence first-year nursing stu-
dents’ choice of nursing as a career, (c) to identify first-year nursing students’ main
reasons for choosing nursing as a career.
Methodology: A quantitative descriptive design was used to conduct the study using
a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised 42 items and was de-
veloped by the researcher based on information from the literature. The questionnaire
was handed out in lecture venues. All 279 first-year nursing students were included
into this study. Validity and reliability were established using the Cronbach’s alpha test
prior to the start of the study. Descriptive statistics were determined using SPSS ver-
sion 25 for all the various factors. Statistical variables such as influencing factors and
nursing students’ main reasons for choosing nursing, were analysed using descriptive
statistics to generate frequency, and cross tabulation using chi square test was also
applied to determine the association between socio-demographic characteristics and
nursing students influencing factors/ main reasons for choosing nursing as a career of
choice. All ethical principles regarding the study were adhered to.
Results: The finding of the current study revealed that nursing students’ main reasons
to come to nursing are altruistic, having an internal desire to help others and a passion
for the nursing profession. In terms of the factors, the intrinsic factors were highly rated
by the respondents: helping others, a passion for nursing and making a difference in
society. This is followed by extrinsic nursing factors: nursing provides a stable job,
there are many opportunities in nursing and there are bursaries to study nursing.
These were rated higher than other factors. There was a significant difference between
male and female motivation; whereas males rated having stability as the main reason
for choosing nursing as a career, females rated having a passion for nursing and help-
ing others as their main reason. Parents did not have a significant influence over stu-
dents’ career choice. The most influential family role models were aunts.
Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that female students are influenced mainly by altru-
istic reasons, namely having a passion for nursing, a desire to help others and making
a difference in society, but male respondents tended to rate financial and job stability
highly. Parents’ influence in career choice rated lower. Other finding is that knowing
someone in health system encourages the recruits to choose nursing as a career. The
findings from this study could be used to provide the relevant nursing school authori-
ties with information in career planning, recruitment strategies and admission criteria.
ii
Recommendation:
Therefore, it is recommended that the institution supports motivation and promotion of
nursing as a career of choice for young people embarking on nursing studies and
promotes nursing values. The process of making a career decision is complex and
affected by many factors to attract the potential recruits into a nursing career. The
parents, realizing that the process of making a career decision is complex and affected
by many factors, should support their children in choosing their life career.
Keywords
 Career choice, first year nursing students, prior exposure, intrinsic and extrinsic
factors, nursing education, recruitment, attrition in nursing, image of nursing.
iii
List of acronyms and abbreviations
AACN: American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
ECP: Extended Curriculum Program
HEI: Higher Education Institution
HEC: Higher Education Council
DoH: Department of Health
NSC: National Senior Certificate
SANC: South African Nursing Council
SA: South Africa
SPSS: Statistical Package for Social Science.
US: United States of America
WHO: World Health Organization
iv
Declaration
I declare that “Factors influencing first year nursing students’ career choice at a
University in the Western Cape” is my own work, that has not been previously sub-
mitted for any degree or examination in any institution and that all sources that I have
used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete refer-
ences.
Jeanne d’Arc Nibagwire Signed …………...……………
This 25th Day of September 2019
Dedication
To the Almighty God who created me, his son Jesus Christ who come to save the
world and the Holy Spirit for his presence with shining light through stages of my life,
honour and glory be yours forever and ever.
I dedicate this work to my husband, Mr. Bizimana Protogene for unconditional love
and care, support in my nursing vocation, being my strength and the good role model
for everyone.
To my adorable children Baho Ursula and Bana Valentin you inspire me.
To my mother, Mukarushema Ferediana, who has gone too soon, thank you for your
pure heart and love for everyone, may your soul rest in peace.
vi
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to my supervisor Prof. J. Chipps for being there all the time, giving
guidance, support, understanding, knowledge sharing, and being a good mentor and
leader. Thank you for being there for me and encouraging me when I was down.
 My appreciation goes to my co-supervisor Dr Dison for her time and support during
the course of study.
 I would like to express my heartfelt praise and gratitude to the love of my life, my
husband, Protogene Bizimana. You are my pillar and strength, thank you for your
love, care, providing for the family, paying my school fees and being a good father
to our children.
 Special thanks to:
 Mukangwije Landrada and Mukangwije Anysia for their love and care through
the steps of my life.
 My family (my mother and father in law, sisters and sisters in- law, my brothers
and brother in- law) for your constant encouragements, support and prayers.
 To all my friends and my God children, being on my side over time.
 To my classmates and all academics at UWC for your Knowledge sharing.
 To my respondents, 1st year nursing students (mainstream and extended pro-
gram) for participating voluntary in my study, God bless you.
 To Ms Stella Ingabire and Monica Uwineza for their constant support and read-
ing my work.
 To my editor Dr Morgan for her hard work and support.
vii
Table of Contents
Abstract ....................................................................................................................... i
List of acronyms and abbreviations ............................................................................iv
Declaration ................................................................................................................. v
Dedication ..................................................................................................................vi
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... vii
CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................... 1
ORIENTATION TO THE STUDY................................................................................ 1
1.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1
1.2. Background of the study .................................................................................. 4
1.3. Problem statement ......................................................................................... 10
1.4. Aim of the study ............................................................................................. 11
1.5. Objectives of the study ................................................................................... 11
1.6. Significance of the study ................................................................................ 11
1.7. Definition of terms .......................................................................................... 12
1.8. Chapter outline ............................................................................................... 12
1.9. Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 13
CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................... 14
LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................ 14
2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 14
2.2. The healthcare system in South Africa .......................................................... 14
2.3. Nursing education in South Africa .................................................................. 15
2.4. Nursing care and a shortage of nurses .......................................................... 17
2.5. Reasons for attrition of students in nursing education ................................... 21
2.6. Factors influencing students’ choice of a nursing career................................ 24
2.6.1. Prior exposure to nursing ......................................................................... 24
2.6.2. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing nursing students’ career choice 26
2.6.3. Image of nursing ...................................................................................... 31

viii
2.7. Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 33
CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................... 34
METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................... 34
3.1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 34
3.2. Research setting ............................................................................................ 34
3.3. Research approach ........................................................................................ 35
3.3.1. Quantitative approach .............................................................................. 35
3.3.2. Research paradigm ................................................................................. 36
3.4. Research design ............................................................................................ 36
3.5. Population and sampling ................................................................................ 37
3.6. Instrument ...................................................................................................... 38
3.6.1. Description of instrument ......................................................................... 38
3.6.2. Validity of the instruments ........................................................................ 39
3.6.3. Instrument reliability: Pre-test of instrument ............................................. 40
3.7. Data collection ............................................................................................... 41
3.7.1. Data collection process ............................................................................ 42
3.8. Data analysis ................................................................................................. 43
3.9. Ethics ............................................................................................................. 45
3.9.1. Informed consent .................................................................................. 45
3.9.2. Respect for the person ......................................................................... 45
3.9.3. The principle of beneficence ................................................................. 46
3.9.4. Privacy/Anonymity ................................................................................ 46
3.10. Conclusion ................................................................................................... 46
CHAPTER FOUR ..................................................................................................... 48
RESULTS ................................................................................................................. 48
4.1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 48
4.2 Sample realization .......................................................................................... 48
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4.3. Demographic characteristics of the respondents ........................................... 48
4.4. Nursing students’ prior exposure to nursing ................................................... 50
4.5. Reasons for choosing nursing as a career in order of importance ................. 51
4.6. Intrinsic factors that influence first-year nursing students’ choice of a nursing as
career. ................................................................................................................... 56
4.7. Extrinsic factors that may influence first-year students’ choice of nursing as
career .................................................................................................................... 57
4.8. Demographic factors influence on factors influencing choosing nursing as a

career .................................................................................................................... 59
4.8.1. Influence of Gender on Intrinsic and Extrinsic factors .............................. 59
4.8.2. Race influence on choice of nursing as career. ....................................... 59
4.8.3. Marital status influence on choice of nursing as career ........................... 60
4.8.4. Nationality influence on choice of nursing as a career. ............................ 60
4.9. The influence of previous exposure influence on choice of nursing as

career. ................................................................................................................... 61
4.9.1. Personal training or work in the health system and choice of nursing as
career. ............................................................................................................... 61
4.9.2. Prior employment and choice of nursing as career. ................................. 61
4.9.3. Prior contact with nursing and choice of nursing as career ...................... 62
4.10. Conclusion ................................................................................................... 63
CHAPTER FIVE ....................................................................................................... 64
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS ................................................................................... 64
5.1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 64
5.2. Profile of nursing students.............................................................................. 64
5.2.1. Choosing nursing as career and the factors influencing nursing career
choice ................................................................................................................ 66
5.2.3 Gender differences in choosing nursing. .................................................. 67
5.2.4. The influence of prior exposure ............................................................... 69
5.2.5. The poor image of nursing. ...................................................................... 70
5.2.6. Low influence of flexibility of working in nursing ....................................... 71
5.3. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................... 71
CHAPTER SIX ......................................................................................................... 73
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................... 73
6.1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 73
6.2. Key findings and implications ......................................................................... 73
6.3. Recommendations ......................................................................................... 74
6.3.1. Recommendations for the nursing school ................................................ 74
6.3.2. Recommendation for nursing education .................................................. 75
6.3.3. Recommendations for research ............................................................... 76
6.4. Limitations ...................................................................................................... 76
6.5. Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 77
REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 78
LIST OF APPENDICES.......................................................................................... 100
Appendix A: Ethical Clearance Certificate from University .................................. 100
Appendix B: Letter to registrar requesting permission to conduct a research ..... 101
Appendix C: Approval Certificate to conduct a research ..................................... 102
Appendix D: Letter to the School of nursing requesting permission .................... 103
Appendix E: Approval letter from the head of nursing department ...................... 104
Appendix F: Information sheet ............................................................................ 105
Appendix G: Consent form .................................................................................. 107
Appendix H: Sample Questionnaire .................................................................... 108
Appendix I: Letter from the editor ........................................................................ 110
Appendix J: Turnitin Report................................................................................. 111
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List of Tables
Table 1: Definition of terms ...................................................................................... 12
Table 2: Content validity ........................................................................................... 40
Table 3: Age and gender of respondents ................................................................. 49
Table 4: Demographic characteristics of the respondents ........................................ 49
Table 5: Prior exposure to nursing ........................................................................... 51
Table 6: Main reasons for choosing nursing as a career .......................................... 52
Table 7: Main reasons for choosing nursing as a career (Female) .......................... 53
Table 8: Main reasons for choosing nursing as a career (Male) ............................... 55
Table 9: Intrinsic factors that may influence first-year nursing students’ choice of
nursing career .......................................................................................................... 57
Table 10: Extrinsic factors that influence first-year nursing students’ choice of nursing
as career .................................................................................................................. 58
List of Figures
Figure 1: The main reasons for choosing nursing as a career in order of importance
................................................................................................................................. 53
Figure 2: Main reasons for choosing nursing as career (Female) ............................ 54
Figure 3: Main reasons for choosing nursing as career (Male) ................................ 56
xii
CHAPTER ONE
ORIENTATION TO THE STUDY
1.1. Introduction
Nursing is regarded as a professional career by the society and remains the backbone
of the healthcare system (Swarna, 2015; Blaauw, Dietlopo & Rispel, 2014; Awases,
Bezuidenhout, & Roos, 2013; Keleher, Parker & Francis, 2010; Breier, Wildschut &
Mgqolozana, 2008). A nurse refers to someone who cares for patients holistically and
is responsive to the patient’s physical, mental and spiritual needs (Zamanzadeh,
Jasemi, Valizadeh, Keogh & Taleghani, 2015; Keleher et al., 2010). Hence,
knowledge, skills and a positive attitude are necessities in the nursing profession to
enhance patient care (Mulaudzi, Mokwena & Troskie, 2010; De Cooman, De Gieter,
Papermans, Du Bois, Caers & Jegers, 2008). The nursing profession in South Africa
is undergoing a process of transformation in order to produce quality and competent
nurses in line with the Higher Education Institution’s (HEI) goals (Blaauw et al., 2014).
Thus, recruitment of nursing students needs to take place in alignment with these
goals of access to quality higher education, participation, equity, quality, efficiency and
democracy (Matlakala, 2016; Rispel, 2015).
Having a sufficient and quality nursing workforce and retaining nurses in the
healthcare system is still a challenge globally and more importantly in South Africa
(Cupido, 2017). This means the recruitment, support and care for nurses and nursing
students must be taken seriously for students to make a success of their choice of a
nursing career (McLaughlin, Moutray & Moore, 2010). In South Africa, there is a crisis
of insufficient nurses which may also have been caused by the fact that prior to 1994
nurses were only chosen from a small pool of students, who were predominantly white
female (Pool, 2012). This requires redress from a transformation point of view (Rispel
& Bruce, 2014; Lenepa, 2008). The legacy of apartheid means that more Black African
families were not well informed about nursing and as such students have limited prior
exposure to nursing before entering a nursing programme (Dodge & Welderufael,
2014; Mphahlele, 2011). As a result of the lack of knowledge of what nursing is all
about, some of these students who enter nursing programmes change their career
after graduation or during the course of their lifetime leading to shortages in the num-
ber of practising nurses (Alkaya, Yaman & Simones, 2018; Kabanya & Mwaniki, 2016).
Thus, it is important that students’ decision to do nursing should be an informed choice.
Dante, Rizzi, Landerca & Palese (2013) found that for the potential candidates who
did not process or had incorrect information regarding nursing were not interested in
pursuing the nursing profession. The study suggested that to make the best career
decision it is important to strengthen the strategies to offer valid information at sec-
ondary schools about nursing career to school leavers, their families, teachers and
social networks.
Some of the factors that affect nursing students’ career-choice decision-making in-
clude social and economic pressures, the reputation or status of the nursing profes-
sion, interest, desire to help others (altruism), ability to work with people, opportunities
and the influences of family and friends (Wilkes, Cowin & Johnson, 2015; Jirwe &
Rudman, 2012; Eley, Eley & Rogers, 2010; Natan & Becker, 2010).
First-year nursing students’ perception of a nursing career has a huge impact on their
self-concept and self-esteem (Alkaya et al., 2018; Kabanya et al., 2016). These factors
determine whether they continue training and remain in the nursing field for years to
come or change to another career (Lenepa, 2008). Therefore, understanding these
influences from both the administrative and the nursing student’s point of view will aid
the recruitment and retention of nursing students as well as nurses (Jirwe et al., 2012).
Many young individuals find nursing very laborious because it is time and attention
demanding. Student choice to continue with the nursing field could be affected either
negatively or positively depending on their level of performance and success in their
chosen career (McDermid, Peters, Jackison & Daly, 2012). Studies have shown that
there is less interest in the nursing profession by school leavers than there was in the
past and the methods to identify and guide appropriate students into nursing career
are lacking (Emeghebo, 2012; Roberts & Ward-Smith, 2010). Moreover, young people
entering the nursing profession are more likely than their predecessors to withdraw
from nursing even if it was their first choice (Emeghebo, 2012; Breier et al., 2008;
Jeptha, 2008). Furthermore, the lack of readiness of students to embark on a nursing
career and lack of support for students in making a career choice affects their studies
because sometimes students need to change their programme several times and this
has an adverse effect on their future employment (Cabaniss, 2011).
The public needs to have a clear idea of what nursing entails in order to motivate the
youth. A lack of knowledge often leads people to undervalue a nursing career com-
pared to other health-related careers and reject it prematurely (Tan-Kuick, 2012).
Therefore, a critical look at the factors influencing first-year nursing students’ career
choice in the university is imperative.
1.2. Background of the study
The nursing profession has progressed from nurturing the sick and the needy to ca-
tering for all health needs of all persons, with an aim of promoting, preventing and
restoring health, as well as promoting coping by providing rehabilitation services
(Geyer, Mogotlane & Young, 2009). Nursing is a caring profession and that can easily
be affected by prevailing politics, legislation policy, national health problems, econom-
ics and educational constraints (Swarna, 2015; Alkaya et al., 2018). In turn, these fac-
tors for instance educational and economic factors can affect the students’ decisions
to either enter, continue, or withdraw from nursing programmes. In South Africa, nurs-
ing education programmes must be approved by Higher Education Council (HEC),
moreover, the government need to invest in nursing education as lack resources, in-
frastructures will affect nursing education and training (Rispel et al., 2014). The core
of the nursing profession is caring and nurturing patients, it is based on the art of sci-
ence directed at providing human healthcare (Greyer et al., 2009; Bruce, Klopper &
Mellish, 2011; De Cooman et al., 2008). This means that nursing is not only based on
knowledge but also skills to practice in a competent way. Based on this information,
the South African Nursing Council (SANC) defines nursing sciences as a human
health science that contributes to the body of knowledge for practice by persons reg-
istered or enrolled under the Nursing Act No. 33 of 2005 (Dolamo & Olubiyi, 2013).
At an international level there is increasing evidence of an imbalance in global nurs-
ing’s supply and demand (World Health Organization (WHO), 2014; Mkala, 2013).
Given the vast demand for nurses in many areas of healthcare, the shortage of
properly trained nurses is an obstacle to achieving better health for all (Farsi, Dehga-
han-Nayeri, Negarandeh & Broomand, 2010). The shortage of nurses is a worldwide
phenomenon which has been worsening, because of the growing global population
with stunted recruitments and a high number of retiring nurses (Awases et al, 2013).
At the rate that the global human population is growing it is estimated that 590 000
nurses will be needed in Europe alone and nine million globally by the year 2030
(WHO, 2016; Sermeus & Bruyneel, 2010). Another reason for the increase in the num-
ber of nurses needed in society can be attributed to the growing number of patients
suffering from chronic and acute illnesses as well as high life expectancy, which comes
with numerous medical complications (Sermeus et al., 2010).
In recent years, there have been many reports on the difficulties of recruiting nurses
and filling positions at hospitals and in some communities in the United States of Amer-
ica (USA), Europe and Israel (Natan et al., 2010). In England an acute shortage of
nurses has been reported. For example, in 2017, there were 34260 vacant nursing
positions in England (Walker, 2018). In Poland in 2011, the ratio of nurses per 1 000
patients was below 5.2 which is extremely low when compared to countries such as
Switzerland whose ratio of nurses per 1000 patients was 16.6 (Marcinowicz, Owlasiuk,
Slusarska, Zarzycka & Pawlikowska, 2016).
There are several reasons for the shortage of nurses. Experienced nurses and new
graduates in their first and second years in service are leaving their posts due to the
increased workload and limited pay and the total number of nurses leaving the profes-
sion is rising (Rudman, Gustavsson & Hultell, 2014; Finlayson, Dixon, Meadows &
Blair, 2008). Furthermore, the under-production of nurses in the education institutions
could be one of the reasons for this shortage in conjunction with a high demand for
nursing care due to multiple long-term illnesses and an increase in the aged popula-
tion. The shortage of nurses has become an issue that has brought multiple disciplines
together for research, report, and support efforts to recruit as well as educate future
generations in the nursing profession (American Association of Colleges of Nursing
(AACN), 2014, Price, 2009). According to WHO (2010), the strategies to strengthen
and sustain the nursing profession in the healthcare system would depend on nursing
workforce planning, education and training as well as retention of nursing students
and nurses.
Other challenges causing shortage of nurses are lack of new recruits from school due
to lack of good reputation and motivation in the society (Cupido, 2017; Van Zyl, 2011;
Mphahlele, 2011). For instance, in Poland, young people have a low interest in nursing
career partially caused by the poor publicity nursing gets, for example referring to
nursing as ‘a dying profession’. Furthermore, nursing has been termed ‘a low-status’
profession with the lowest paid workforce and a salary below the country average
(Marcinowicz et al., 2016). To make matters worse there is a reported increased work-
load due to inadequate number of nurses (Marcinowicz et al., 2016). In another study,
Singapore was reported to have fewer school leavers who choose to be trained in
nursing, resulting in nursing shortages from the limited pool of potential candidates
(Tan-Kuick, 2012).
South Africa is also experiencing a severe nursing shortage, especially in the under-
served rural areas where there is a scarcity of nurses and doctors compared to the
urban areas (Pillay & Barron, 2011). As will be seen, the primary healthcare approach
that has been adopted by the South African government to meet healthcare needs is
one of the reasons that the acute shortage of highly skilled and trained nurses has
come under the spotlight (Mayosi, Lawn, van Niekerk, Bradshaw, Karim, Coovadia &
Lancet South Africa team, 2012). The shift to a concentration on primary healthcare
was done in line with the millennium development goals which have to be achieved
(Pillay et al., 2011). This approach focuses on improving patient care to increase life
expectancy, decreasing maternal death and child mortality, decreasing the burden dis-
eases such as tuberculosis and combatting HIV and AIDS, and an effective strength-
ening of the healthcare system (DoH, 2011; Pillay et al., 2011). As the total number of
the nurses is not sufficient to meet the new demands of the South African healthcare
system, the fulfilment of these aims brings about a need for an increase in the number
of nurses with specialized care, the number of those who need to be trained in the
basic nursing package and those needing to be trained in advanced medical technol-
ogy, (Department of Health (DoH), 2008). In 2014, the healthcare statistics of South
Africa showed that 76.8% of all healthcare professionals in the public health system
were nurses of all categories. There was an estimated shortage of professional nurses
in the healthcare system in 2010 of 44780 (Rispel et al., 2014; DoH, 2013).
There are factors related to the state of the healthcare system in South Africa which
decrease the desirability of nursing as a career. For instance, the healthcare system
is under resourced which has put nurses under pressure (Matsoso & Fryatt, 2013;
Rispel, Moorman, Daniel, Naidoo, Pillay & Southall, 2013). Other factors are that
nurses report feeling tired at work given the high number of patients allocated to them
daily, the shortage of professional nurses, and the absence of a caring attitude
amongst one’s colleagues (Rispel, 2016; DoH, 2013).
All these factors may have a devastating effect on the choice of nursing as a career
and on the training and retaining of nursing students (Rispel et al., 2013; DoH, 2013).
These lead to a loss of interest by most school-leavers in pursuing a nursing career
and the general decline of image and status of nursing in South Africa (Meiring, 2011;
Van Zyl, 2011; Pillay, 2009).
This can also be seen from the standpoint of a disjuncture between the needs of
nurses and those of communities who require care and treatment (Mphahlele, 2011).
The patient has high expectations of nurses. However, considering the limited amount
of time nurses are able to spend per patient, the demand to increase quality of care of
patients is not realistic (Emeghebo, 2012; Breier et al., 2008). Furthermore, these ad-
verse factors may affect the new novices’ choice of profession and their training pro-
cess, particularly as the nursing profession does not market itself more and there is a
dearth of role models to lead the way for nursing students (Rispel, 2015; Breier et al.,
2008). The ageing nursing workforce exacerbates the pressure to recruit new nurses,
given that nearly half (43.7%) of existing nurses were reported to be over 50 years of
age in 2014 (Rispel et al., 2014) which increased to 48% in 2017 (SANC, 2018b).
These challenges affect the nursing profession and nursing workforce as nurses make
up most of the healthcare workforce in general (Matlakala, 2016).
Recruiting and retaining suitable students into nursing education is crucially important
in order to increase quality and the number of nurses in the health system and improve
the quality of nursing care (Wilkes et al., 2015). In order to achieve this successfully it
is necessary to understand the factors that enable the retention and success of stu-
dents in nursing programmes. It is therefore valuable to develop more understanding
of the factors that influence students to choose nursing as a career, as expressed
through the reasons that they give for their choice. Influential factors include prior ex-
posure to the nursing profession, access to funding, bursaries and scholarships
(Nyamwange, 2016; Roos, Fichardt, Mackenzie & Raubenheimer, 2016; Jeptha,
2008); and the image and reputation of nursing in society (Cabaniss, 2011, Cupido,
2017). The image of nursing in society is greatly affected by how nursing is depicted
in the media (Cupido, 2017). Students are motivated to do nursing for intrinsic and
extrinsic reasons (Natan et al., 2010). Intrinsic reasons would include reasons such as
a passion to care for people and help others (Halperin & Mashiach-Eizenberg, 2014)
and extrinsic reasons would include reasons such as opportunities for bursaries and
job security (Liaw, Wu, Holroyd, Wang, Lopez, Lim & Chow, 2016). It is these factors
which influence students’ choice to do nursing and which are the object of this study.
Nursing students’ understanding of their life orientation and the reasons for their career
choice is vital for students to succeed in their studies and further careers (Wilkes et
al., 2015). Thus, those concerned with the recruitment and training of nurses need to
be thoroughly conversant with the motivation and thinking of students considering a
career in nursing in order to attract and retain more nurses into the healthcare system
(Mtemeri, 2017). The reasons that influence one’s entry into the nursing profession
may enhance students’ motivation to keep energized and personally stimulated.
Hence, from a career perspective, it may be vital to state the required or preferred
professional attitude and actions when encouraging potential candidates to choose
the nursing profession (Wilkes et al., 2015).
Understanding these reasons why students choose to pursue nursing can enhance
curricular development towards a more caring and holistic paradigm of nursing (Wilkes
et al., 2015). This study will add to the body of knowledge of nursing education, espe-
cially in relation to admission procedures by examining specific individual factors that
influence students’ views regarding a nursing career.
1.3. Problem statement
The nursing profession forms the core of the healthcare system and there is a need
for a constant supply of nurses to deliver quality care (Roos et al., 2016). However,
there is a worldwide shortage of nurses, which has reached a crisis point for the health
services (Kukkonen, Suhonen, Salminen, 2016; Farsi et al., 2010; Jafta, 2008). This
has had a negative effect on the development of continued nursing practices as well
as the health system (McDermid et al., 2012). One other contributing factor to the
shortage of nurses is the high attrition rate of students, especially in first year (McLach-
lan, 2010). In addition, due to global nursing shortages, there is burnout and continu-
ous pressure on the current nursing workforce, especially given that most nurses have
reached retiring age and the mean age of those still practising is so high (Marcinowicz
et al., 2016; Emeghebo, 2012).
Understanding factors influencing students’ nursing career choice is important in re-
cruiting nursing students into nursing programmes and retaining them. This may re-
duce the attrition rate and contribute towards alleviating the nursing shortage.
The global challenges to the nursing profession are also evident in the South African
context (Roos et al., 2016; Breier et al., 2008). To ensure a future supply of competent
registered nurses however, it is important for nursing schools to attract and recruit the
most suitable, well-motivated nursing students, who are likely to succeed in their stud-
ies and boost the image of the nursing profession (Awases et al., 2013). For this to
take place it is necessary to be informed about the reasons why students choose nurs-
ing as a career.
10
Thus, this study investigates the factors which influence first-year students’ choice to
study nursing at a university in the Western Cape. While a research on nursing stu-
dents’ career choice has been done for South Africa (Mkhize & Nzimande, 2007), no
study has been done pertaining to factors influencing nursing students’ career choice
at a university in the Western Cape. Thus, this study aims to investigate reasons for
choosing nursing as a career by first-year nursing students at a university in the West-
ern Cape.
1.4. Aim of the study
This study aims to investigate the factors influencing first-year nursing students’ career
choice at a university in the Western Cape, South Africa
1.5. Objectives of the study
1. To identify first-year nursing students’ prior exposure to nursing.
2. To determine the intrinsic (personal) and extrinsic (environmental) factors which
influence first-year nursing students’ choice of nursing as a career.
3. To identify first- year nursing students’ main reasons for choosing nursing as a
career.
1.6. Significance of the study
This study describes self-reported reasons of why nursing students choose nursing as
a career. The results could therefore be used to provide the relevant nursing school
authorities with information that may be used to improve recruitment strategies and
admission criteria. The information on factors that influence career choice in nursing
may contribute to the retention of nursing students in nursing programmes and so
11
contribute to reducing the shortage of nurses. This could also contribute to improving
the way educators provide targeted support to nursing students for enhanced retention
and further career planning. In addition, it could give insight to career advisors during
their career guidance sessions, to assist students in addressing the challenges they
encounter. Lastly, it contributes to the body of knowledge on nursing education in
South Africa.
1.7. Definition of terms
Table 1: Definition of terms
Operational definition: In this study, a first-year nursing student is a student in

First-year nursing
their first year or foundation year in the Bachelor of Nursing degree programme
Students
registered at a university in the Western Cape.
From the Lexico online dictionary, prior refers to existing or coming before in
time, order, or importance. Exposure means experience of something (Lexico,
2017).
Prior exposure:
Operational definition: In this study, prior exposure is defined as having earlier
contact with nursing care while you, your family member or friend was sick or
through having worked in another capacity in the healthcare system.
Intrinsic means belonging naturally; essential. Factor refers to a circumstance,
fact, or influence that contributes to a result (Lexico, 2017).
Intrinsic factors as are then inherent which means are natural to the person’s
Intrinsic factors: characteristics (for instance desire to help others or make a difference in the
society.
Operational definition: In this study, it means personal factors driven by inter-
nal motivation of the person, which influence the nursing career choice.
Extrinsic means: not part of the essential nature of someone or something; com-
ing or operating from outside (Lexoco, 2017).
Extrinsic factors then mean belonging to the external world, outward aspects or
external circumstances, these factors are from outside not inherent or essential
Extrinsic factors:
(Lexico, 2017).
Operational definition: In this study, it means external factors (job opportuni-
ties is an example of extrinsic reasons that influence nursing students candi-
dates to select nursing as career.
1.8. Chapter outline
Chapter 1: Provides an introduction and background to the study. It outlines the aim
and objectives and explains the significance of the study. It defines the problem.
12
Chapter 2: Literature review gives direction on factors influencing students on their
choice, prior exposure to nursing, the image of nursing in society, shortage and attri-
tion of nursing, according to what previous studies have reported.
Chapter 3: Outlines the methodology used in the study, which includes the research
setting, approach, design, population, instrument, pre-test, reliability and validity as
well as data collection, data analysis and ethical considerations.
Chapter 4: This chapter consists of the results of the study represented in the form of
graphs and tables and descriptions of the findings.
Chapter 5: This chapter consists of the results discussions of the study.
Chapter 6: This chapter consists of the conclusions, recommendations and limitations
of the study.
1.9. Conclusion
This chapter sets out the background to the study, details of the study, the terms and
significance of the study. The next chapter focuses on the relevant literature in this
field.
13
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Introduction
The nursing profession should be promoted as a career of choice as nursing globally
and in South Africa is the backbone of the healthcare system (Awases et al., 2013).
Nursing should be a career which attracts academically and ethically strong students
who are interested in making a difference to society. This chapter describes the pub-
lished literature globally and in South Africa on students’ choice of nursing as a career.
It looks specifically at factors which influence an individual’s decision to choose a nurs-
ing career in a South African context, such as the state of the healthcare system, qual-
ity of nursing care and personal and environmental factors. In addition, reasons why
there is a shortage of qualified nurses, the high attrition rate and public perception of
nurses in South Africa will be explored.
2.2. The healthcare system in South Africa
In South Africa, there are 57. 73 million people (SANC, 2019) who need to be served
by healthcare provisions, which range from prevention, promotion, curative, and reha-
bilitation. Since 1994, the healthcare system has had a focus on the prevention of
illness to improve people’s lives (Pillay et al., 2011). Normally, 80% of the South Afri-
can uninsured population relies on public healthcare with nurses being the majority of
healthcare workers in the healthcare system (McIntyre & Ataguba, 2017; Duma, De
Swardt, Khanyiler, Kyriacos, Mtshali, Maree, Puone, Van den Heever & Hewell, 2008).
14
The healthcare system is divided into three levels, namely primary, secondary and
tertiary levels. Patients have the right to choose between private and public institutions
where they seek treatment based on their levels of resources (Duma et al., 2008).
Nurses make up most of the health workforce in the South Africa healthcare system
at all levels and are involved in the treatment and care of the patients. However, the
shortage of nurses in South Africa healthcare settings, especially in rural areas, im-
pacts severely on service delivery (Matlakala, 2016). It has been reported that only a
few nurses are willing to work in under-served rural areas and therefore there is a
maldistribution of nurses between rural and urban areas, public and private areas
(McIntyre et al., 2017). This shortage of nurses in rural area is caused by the lack of
service delivery and quality service, unavailability of resources, an unfavourable work-
ing environment and the lack of continuous professional development in rural areas
(Armstrong & Rispel, 2015; Dodge et al., 2014; Lagarde & Blaauw, 2013).
The nursing shortage adds to the quadruple burden of disease and has a strongly
negative impact on plans for health-sector reforms (Rispel et al., 2013; Coovadia,
Jewkes, Barron, Sanders, & McIntyre, 2009). The challenge faced by the nurses is to
achieve progress in universal health coverage and to attain millennium health devel-
opment goals (DoH, 2011).
2.3. Nursing education in South Africa
Nursing education aims to develop and revitalize the nursing profession to ensure
practitioners are well equipped to manage the burden of diseases and the health
needs of all citizens (DoH, 2013). Students who are interested in nursing and have the
required school-leaving qualifications can apply to the various nursing institutions
around the country in each academic year if spaces and resources are available to
15
train them. The criteria for nursing admission to university are generally based on the
National Senior Certificate (NSC) scores or equivalent certificate that allow the admis-
sion to formal post-secondary education (Cupido, 2017). Once students satisfy the
criteria mentioned above, they can then apply to enter a university.
The Bachelor of Nursing is the only undergraduate nursing degree programme offered
at the selected university in the Western Cape and this university is one of three uni-
versities which offer the Bachelor of Nursing degree in the Western Cape. In South
Africa, the number of years that it takes to complete the nursing degree programme
varies from four to five years (DoH, 2013). The degree is structured in such a way that
it has both theory and practical components that must be successfully completed be-
fore students are conferred with the Bachelor of Nursing degree according to the Nurs-
ing Act No 33 of 2005 (Nursing Act, 2005). To be a successful nursing student, one
must pass both the practical and theory with at least 50% in all subjects at each year
level of the mainstream programme (four-year degree programme) or an Extended
Curriculum Programme (ECP, five-year degree programme).
A nurse graduate can register as a community service practitioner for one year. After
completion of the one-year community-service the successful individual is allowed to
register as a professional nurse and midwife (Lagarde et al., 2013). They can then be
able to work as general, community, psychiatric nurse and midwife under the Nursing
Act No 33 of 2005. The nursing licence is renewable each year and the individual have
to pay a certain renewal fee depending on the nursing category being applied in ac-
cordance to Act No.33 of 2005 (Nursing Act, 2005).
According to Walker and Clendon (2018), working in healthcare is increasingly com-
plex and demands nurses to be well prepared with knowledge and skills to handle the
16
technology and different disease profiles. Since the increasingly aging population and
staff migration to the other countries adversely affect patient care, there is a need to
create a way to support a multigenerational entry in the health workforce (Matsoso et
al., 2013; Broom, 2010).
Generally, nurses should possess the following intrinsic features, namely belief in the
dignity of human life, social maturity, respect, interest and concern for others, a posi-
tive attitude, good sense and a friendly, sympathetic, patient, and tolerant outlook (Pitt,
Powis, Levett-Jones & Hunter, 2014; Newton, Kelly, Kremser, Jolly & Billett, 2009).
These attributes may well improve the way people perceive nursing as a career (New-
ton et al., 2009). Serious consideration of their importance in the nursing profession
suggests that a change in recruitment criteria may be needed: that the nursing profes-
sion should also look for these character traits and having a passion and empathy for
nursing in their students rather than focusing only on external factors, for instance
having a national senior certificate and satisfactory grades (Kabanya et al., 2016; Pitt
et al., 2014).
2.4. Nursing care and a shortage of nurses
Universally, there is an imbalance in nursing demand and supply at the global level
(WHO, 2014). This is a problem because the nursing shortage affects the quality of
patient care, results in stress and burnout of the nursing workforce which, in turn, im-
pacts the image of nursing career, recruitment and retention of nurses as well as nurs-
ing students (Hickey, Sumsion & Harrisson, 2010). The allocated time to provide ef-
fective care has decreased and the nurse-patient ratio is still high in many countries.
Furthermore, it is suggested that the nursing shortage will worsen in the future as more
17
nursing professionals are not satisfied and feel undervalued, overworked and under-
paid which affects the nurses’ performance and their ability to meeting the patients’
needs (Goodare, 2017). The poor working conditions and pressure experienced by
nurses at all levels causes dissatisfaction and leads them to leave the nursing work-
force resulting in a shortage of nursing service (Walton-Roberts, 2010, Duffield, Aitken,
O’Brien-Pallas & Wise, 2004).
Moreover, the incidence of adverse outcomes is enhanced by less qualified registered
nurses and an increased rate of retiring nursing workforce (Buerhaus, Skinner, Auer-
bach & Staiger, 2017). Many studies have shown that the further challenge anticipated
in the health system in the next 20 years is the high number of retiring nurses from the
profession (Goodare, 2017; Walton-Roberts, 2010). Despite the effort to improve nurs-
ing shortage, the United States (US) is expected to reach a shortage of 500,000 reg-
istered nurses by 2025 (Buerhaus, Staiger & Auerbach, 2008).
In South Africa, healthcare services face a similar problem of nursing shortages in the
public health sector as registered in the studies of Roos et al. (2016) and Rispel (2015).
The shortage is particularly felt in the primary healthcare system (Meyer & Van
Niekerk, 2008). SANC’s statistics show that at the end of the year 2017 there was a
total of 287,077 nurses registered with SANC under three different categories (regis-
tered, enrolled and auxiliary nurses). Of this number only 49.49% (142,091) were reg-
istered nurses. This leaves the national ratio of registered nurses to population at 398
individuals per one registered nurse (398:1). In addition to this ratio, the statistics show
that the majority of the registered nurses 75% (106,234) were over 40 years and only
5% (7327) of registered nurses were less than 30 years (SANC, 2018a).
18
Generally, the output of nursing education institutions does not match the service
needs of the South African society. This is due to insufficient school leavers opting for
a nursing career or nursing students withdrawing from the training prematurely
(Chauke, Van Del Wal & Botha, 2015; Mkala, 2013). The output of nursing education
institution is not enough to replace the aging nursing work force. The statistics shows
that only 6335 students completed 4 years’ degree or bridging programme to become
registered nurse in 2017 while at the same time 26,997 or (19% of) registered nurses
had reached over 60 years and retiring soon (SANC, 2018a; 2018b).
There is also a lack of alignment between the work environment of nurses and the
nursing training institutions (DoH, 2013). Armstrong et al. (2015) are of the opinion
that if nurses are not prepared adequately to face the challenges of the complex bur-
den of diseases that patients present in the health system or hospital it becomes very
difficult for them to contribute positively. Added to this issue, there is a growing de-
mand for healthcare services because of the increase in chronic disease in South Af-
rica, for instance, HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and lifestyle diseases like obesity
requiring competent nurses. Furthermore, the situation is worsened by population
growth and the increase in the ageing population that make nursing workforce unable
to keep pace with this escalation in service demand (Walker et al., 2018).
The solution to these challenges lies in the recruitment of nursing students and reten-
tion of nurses in the healthcare system (Meiring, 2011). Various studies show that the
quality of the supportive environment can entice new nurses and nursing students into
the profession and retain them (Chauke, 2014; Lanschinger, Finegan & Wilk, 2009).
To encourage good performance, the healthcare environment needs to be favourable
19
to the nurses and nursing students to facilitate a positive and stress-free learning prac-
tice environment (Chauke, 2014). On the other hand, in the process of transformation
of nursing education, which involves the changing nursing curricula and the introduc-
tion of new nursing qualifications, SANC has developed a recommended plan to ex-
pand and increase enrolled categories of nurses and ensure that first-year level prac-
titioners are equipped to deliver the primary healthcare package as well as antenatal
care (Meyer et al., 2008).
Furthermore, to alleviate the shortage of nurses in the healthcare system, the recruit-
ment strategies need to focus on attracting a diverse group of individuals and include
both male and female to reflect the current demographic profile (Phillips & Malone,
2014; Meadus & Twomey, 2011). According to Farsi et al. (2010), the youth should be
encouraged to consider nursing as a prestigious career and every opportunity should
be seized to market the nurses’ role in society so that the credibility of a nursing career
may increase in the community. Al Jarrah, (2013) is of the opinion that for successful
recruitment of future nursing students, the process should consider prospective nurs-
ing students who possess the desire to help others, have empathy and passion for
nursing as they will likely succeed in the nursing career. The promotion of nursing as
a career of choice and recruitment of nurses may help in reduction of shortage of
nursing workforce, as Meiring (2011) suggests, the recruitment of nursing students
and retention of nurses in the healthcare system is the key to success.
Moreover, efforts should be made to ensure that nursing administrators and educators
are able to help alleviate the burden of recruiting, retaining and supporting nursing
candidates (Kukkonen et al., 2016; Lai, Lin, Chang, Chen, Peng, Chang, 2008).
20
2.5. Reasons for attrition of students in nursing education
Attrition is a term used when a student leaves the course without completing the study
programme (Urwin, Stanley, Jones, Gallagher, Wainwright & Perkins, 2010). It is
called wastage because, a student spends money, time and other resources but fails
to complete the course and achieve a set goal and this has an impact on both the
institution’s and the student’s production and reputation (Urwin et al., 2010).
Generally, the worldwide issue of attrition in nursing is common with new graduates
who are the future of the nursing profession (Newton et al., 2009). The nursing staff
retention issues have been a long-term problem as the number of nurses with interest
in working in a hospital or clinical setting has declined while they are the one to train
and mentor the novices in the nursing field (Newton et al., 2009). This affects the in-
tegration of enrolled nursing students and new staff in the real world of the clinical
setting; thus, causing more stress and lack of competence, confidence and experi-
ence, in the end discourage nursing students and new graduates to continue in the
nursing profession (Jafta, 2013; Lai, Peng & Hang, 2006).
A study in the Netherlands found that the main reasons for attrition were strongly re-
lated to the training programme. While the students started nursing with the motivation
to care for people and the opportunity to deliver excellent nursing care, they soon
considered withdrawing from the programme as the environment did not meet their
expectations (ten Hoeve, Castelein, Jansen & Roodbol, 2017). The students experi-
enced lack of support from mentors and nurses in the clinical placements. They felt
unwelcomed and working in an unsupportive team, and unfriendly environment. The
study concluded that lecturers and mentors had a huge role in ensuring that students
stayed and succeeded in their training and clinical placement (ten Hoeve et al., 2017).
21
The high attrition rate of nursing students contributes to the shortage of nurses, espe-
cially first-year nursing students (McLachlan, 2010). The United States of America has
a 30% attrition rate. Despite the need to reduce the shortage of nurses, many student
candidates’ applications were turned away due to lack of simulation laboratory, class-
rooms and limited space for clinical practice as well as a lower number of nursing
educators at that time (Lewis & Vealé, 2010). In other countries various initiatives were
put in place to reduce the high attrition rates (Cook, 2010; Wilson, Chur-Hansen, Mar-
shall & Air, 2010; Stott, 2007).
In Australia, nursing students were leaving the profession mostly to pursue their career
outside the nursing field, using the nursing training as a stepping stone to another
career (Eley et al., 2010). However, the nurses reported their reasons for leaving were
disillusionment, stress, burnout and retirement (Eley et al., 2010). In addition, the lower
social status in terms of salaries for the nursing workforce or being dissatisfied with
the nursing career discouraged the nursing students from continuing with nursing
(McLaughlin et al., 2010). Furthermore, in the beginning, first-year nursing students
found their studies stressful which led to student attrition (Jeptha, 2008). Nursing stu-
dents would also discontinue the programme because they lacked knowledge of what
nursing entails or they had difficulties coping with the clinical aspects of nursing or they
were experiencing personal problems (Roos et al., 2016; Cook, 2010; Jeptha, 2008).
It is evident that nursing students need career advisors to assist them in decision-
making. Moreover, they themselves need self-efficacy and have an informed interest
in their chosen career in order to know that it is an appropriate career for them to
follow. Such preparation would prevent their changing all the time (Lai et al., 2006).
22
A recent study conducted in South Africa, verified that the poor perception of the nurs-
ing profession is a cause of attrition among nursing students and newly qualified
nurses (Chauke et al., 2015). Attrition among nursing students in South Africa has far-
reaching implications in terms of workforce planning and resource expenditure (DoH,
2008). A 2007 study at Tshwane University of Technology confirmed that the high
attrition rate amongst first-year nursing students was due to their misconception of
what the nursing profession entails; as well as the fact that studies were offered only
in English (Wright & Maree, 2007). The students faced a language barrier as English
was not a home language of most students in South Africa (Wright et al., 2007). Other
factors identified in nursing students’ attrition were the realization that nursing was a
wrong career choice, financial challenges, poor academic performance, negative ex-
perience from clinical placement and personal reasons (Kukkonen et al., 2016; Roos
et al., 2016).
The problems of nursing students who change or withdraw from the programme before
completion could be limited by improving the selection strategies of nursing students
(Mbuiya & Sanneh, 2015). Enhancing research in nursing career choice may give in-
dicators that are needed to help promote nursing and increase understanding the nurs-
ing profession in society (Fillman, 2015). This may contribute to attracting the younger
generation into the nursing profession, and in turn, may help to reduce the nursing
shortage (Fillman, 2015). Once achieved, career choice encouragement may prevent
confusion among the nursing students, reduce the nursing student drop out from pro-
grammes and increase interest in the career (Turner, 2011).
23
2.6. Factors influencing students’ choice of a nursing career
Various reasons have been given by students for choosing nursing (McCabe, Nowak,
& Mullen, 2005; Chauke, 2014; Mooney, Glacken & O’Brien, 2008; Dal, Arifoğlu, &
Razi, 2009; Natan et al., 2010). One of the most prominent factors which can influence
nursing students’ career choice is prior exposure to nursing (Liaw, Wu, Chow, Lim &
Tan 2017; Wu, Low, Tan, López & Liaw, 2015; Harding, 2009).
2.6.1. Prior exposure to nursing
Prior exposure to healthcare has a strong influence on an individual’s choice of nursing
as a career (Wu et al., 2015; Pool, 2012). Young people are significantly inspired by
others in their lives; hence they need good role models to guide them as on their own
they have difficulty making major life decisions such as the choice of a career (Price,
Hall, Angus & Peter, 2013; Pool, 2012). Thus, students generally need intensive guid-
ance from their support structures, such as families, teachers and friends, to recognize
their abilities and interests (Walker et al., 2018, Achilles, 2010). Several studies have
revealed that encouragement from friends and relatives, nursing students, family
members and successful nurses were the main factors that promoted nursing candi-
dates’ aspirations to become nurses (Ferri, Laffi, Rovesti, Artioli, & Di Lorenzo, 2016;
Al-Jarrah, 2013; Achilles, 2010).
Exposure to healthcare-related work through community-involvement programmes
such as job-shadowing in a healthcare setting also appear to have a vital influence on
nursing students’ career preferences (Ferri et al., 2016; Safadi, Saleh, Nassar, Amre
& Froelicher, 2011). These programmes provide good orientation to pre-university stu-
dents who are considering taking up nursing as a career (Baldwin, Bentley, Langtree
24
& Mills, 2014). This is possibly due to modelling in the clinical setting by nurse educa-
tors as an integral part of nursing students’ learning and professional development
(Baldwin et al., 2014; Safadi et al., 2011).
Kabanya et al. (2016) and McLaughlin et al. (2010) reported that contact with the
healthcare service or someone in a healthcare setting can influence a potential stu-
dent’s choice of nursing as a career and knowledge about a nursing career can be an
influential factor in their decision making process. Providing opportunities for high
school students to volunteer or work in a healthcare setting may help students to get
insight into what nursing is all about (Nyamwange, 2016). A good role model nurse
who has the characteristics of caring and a passion for nursing would be admired by
potential students and can be very influential in their career decision making (ten
Hoeve et al., 2017; Emeghebo, 2012, Price, 2009).
Nursing is also seen as more attractive for older students when compared to younger
school leavers due to mature students having been more exposed to the healthcare
system and have a better understanding of it in comparison to young school leavers
(McLaughlin et al., 2010).
A student’s decision to choose a nursing career may also be influenced by their expe-
rience such as exposure to nursing care while they were sick or a family member being
sick (Mooney et al., 2008). Another influence could be when a family member, relative
or friend is a nurse as this situation may also provide a role model for students who
may want to follow in the above-mentioned individuals’ footsteps (Kabanya et al.,
2016; Tan-Kuick, 2012; Mooney et al., 2008). A study conducted by Dal et al. (2009)
on factors influencing nursing students’ career choice with respect to nursing shows
25
that 60.6% of students were influenced by the relatives already working in the
healthcare sector.
2.6.2. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing nursing students’ career choice
There are numerous intrinsic (internal motivational) and extrinsic (environmental and
contextual) factors which can influence a potential student’s career choice (ten Hoeve,
Castelein, Jansen, Jansen & Roodbol, 2016; Natan et al., 2010; McCabe et al., 2005).
Intrinsic factors: Intrinsic factors refer to motivational behaviour aimed at achieving a
feeling of competence and control (McCabe et al., 2005). Specifically, these factors
relate to internal motivation, which involves seeking out challenges and opportunities
for excellence namely, interest, self-fulfilment, and self-esteem as well as helping oth-
ers (Natan et al., 2010).
Initially, the traditional understanding of nursing was that nursing was a noble career
and nurses were altruistic, caring, compassionate and passionate (Price et al., 2013).
More recently the perception and expectation of nurses has been influenced by a neg-
ative stereotype in social media and in the society, though views of nursing as an
ethical caring career continues (Meiring, 2011). The image of the nurse held by the
society has an impact on the nursing career and has an implication for future recruit-
ment and retention of nurses (Price et al., 2013).
Several studies have been conducted to determine the reasons for becoming a nurse
globally and these reasons for choosing nursing as career vary. For instance, the de-
sire to care for or help others (altruism or selfless desire), self-sacrifice to the human
service, getting knowledge in nursing, love of nursing and work associated motives
(ten Hoeve et al, 2017; ten Hoeve et al., 2016; Price, et al., 2013; Jirwe et al., 2012;
26
Cowin & Johnson, 2011; Price, 2011; Natan et al., 2010; Raines, 2010; Duffield, Ait-
ken, O’Brien-Pallas & Wise, 2009; McCabe et al., 2005).
It has been suggested that selection procedures will facilitate enlisting motivated nurs-
ing students with characteristics and dominant traits of caring and compassion in de-
cision-making (Kabanya et al., 2016). Nursing attributes are seen to include qualities
of respect and dignity for humankind, interest in people, good interpersonal skills, per-
sonal maturity, sensitivity, sympathy, tolerance and friendliness without discrimination
(De Cooman et al., 2008; Kabanya et al., 2016). A survey on choice of nursing career
of nurses and nursing students indicated that both practicing nurses and nursing stu-
dents scored highly on intrinsic attraction compared to extrinsic rewards (McCabe et
al., 2005). The score for the questions on intrinsic attraction rated higher between 60%
and 85%. This involved questions on helping others, nursing interest, challenges,
working with people and making a major difference in family and society (McCabe et
al., 2005). The other intrinsic factors that were included in the questionnaire but scored
low were exciting work, community respect, perception of nursing as caring and pres-
tige. For instance, the survey showed that only 28.4% of respondents rated prestige
of the profession as very important compared to 43.4% who viewed prestige as of
minor importance (McCabe et al., 2005).
The traditional view of a nursing career, including an altruistic desire to help others,
caring values and nurturing the individual holistically still influences people’s desire to
choose the nursing profession (Price et al., 2013; McLaughlin et al., 2010). Some stu-
dents enter nursing because they have had a calling to do nursing from childhood; and
therefore, they have no plan to engage in any other career than nursing (Eley et al.,
2010).
27
On the other hand, there are many factors which can discourage the student candi-
dates from choosing nursing as a career. These factors include image of nursing in
the society and values and beliefs related to nursing (Achilles, 2010). Other factors
may include intrinsic factors such as gender, career-maturity, attitudes, personality,
and self-efficacy (ten Hoeve, Kunnen, Brouwer & Roodbol, 2018). These factors can
help in determining the best ways to recruit and retain nursing students in the nursing
programme (ten Hoeve et al., 2018).
Gender stereotypes influence the choice of nursing as a career, for instance, society
perceives a nursing career as a female profession and has a negative perception of
males who choose and practise nursing (Abudari, Ibrahim & Aly, 2016; Oliver, 2010;
Mooney et al., 2008). Law and Arthur (2003) and Phillips et al. (2014) found that stu-
dents’ background had an important impact on their choice to do nursing. These in-
clude socio-demographic factors such as gender, parents’ education level, and occu-
pation (Abudari et al., 2016; Law et al., 2003). Secondly, they found that a male nurses’
motivation for doing nursing might be practical, psychosocial, and based on a desire
to care for others and a feeling of power or of being empowered (Law et al, 2003).
Marcinowicz et al. (2016) in their study in Poland, show that young people perceive
nursing as a career with low prestige. The authors argue that improvement of the im-
age of nursing will increase respect for the profession and make it more attractive.
This result was similar to the findings of McCabe et al. (2005) which was that the in-
trinsic attraction, such as perceiving nursing as a caring and prestigious career, scored
lower (28.4%) on the very important reason of choosing nursing but scored higher
(43.4%) in minor or not important reasons in respondents’ career choice.
28
The media has played a big role in discouraging male students from choosing nursing
as a career (Cabaniss, 2011). Specifically, the media has portrayed nursing as a fe-
male profession, which is less intellectually demanding, and a subservient adjunct to
medicine (Tan-Kuick, 2012). This line of thinking is evident in South Africa, where the
image and status of nursing have been battered, resulting in a declining number of
applicants in general, regardless of gender (Van Zyl, 2011; Mphahlele, 2011; Meiring,
2011; Breier et al., 2008).
In South Africa, Chauke (2014) found that society’s negative perception of nursing
affected the prestige and status of the profession. In other studies, ten Hoeve et al.
(2016) and Myburgh’s (2005) revealed that motivation of first-year nursing students
was based on the interaction between intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The study found
that for most students, a passion for nursing was more important than financial and
material factors.
On the other hand, some students are motivated by extrinsic factors in choosing nurs-
ing as a career. For instance, job opportunities available in nursing or support from
parents, friends and other family members (Jebakani & Rani, 2016; Nilsson & Stom-
berg, 2008; Myburgh, 2005). According to Natan et al (2010) extrinsic factors refer to
motivational behaviour aimed at achieving concrete reward, for instance, job security,
a high salary, comfortable working conditions and behaviour influenced by family and
friends. Financial reasons such as job opportunities and security were seen to be the
main extrinsic reasons for students choosing nursing as a career (Al Jarrah, 2013).
The provision of bursaries is a strong incentive to study nursing. For instance, in South
Africa aspiring students have limited resources to pay for university fees and support
themselves while studying. Thus, many students have been attracted to nursing by
29
bursaries which the government provides to the Department of Health. Some students
took up nursing bursaries even though nursing was not their first choice (Roos et al.,
2016).
The issue of students choosing a nursing career although it was not a first choice has
been reported in international literature as well. For instance, a study conducted in
Ireland showed that some nursing students did not indicate nursing as their first choice
instead they chose teaching, medicine or occupational therapy as their first choice, but
due to insufficient grades, they enrolled for a nursing degree instead (Mooney et al.,
2008). This was also confirmed in another study where university entrance exam
scores were the reason students selected nursing even if it was not their first career
choice (Wu et al., 2015).
McCabe et al. (2005) found that extrinsic reward was rated lower than intrinsic reward.
Extrinsic reward included the opportunity for advancement in career and job promo-
tion, future earning autonomy, responsibility, starting salary, flexible working hours and
good working conditions. Extrinsic factors were rated as most important in students’
choice to do nursing by between 34.6% and 46% of respondents. This compares to
the rating of intrinsic factors as most important by between 60% and 85% of respond-
ents (McCabe et al., 2005). Younger individuals tend to be more materialistic and do
not focus on caring as being considered the foundation of nursing. They choose nurs-
ing only for bursary availability and the salary that they are expecting after the nursing
course. Such an outlook may pose a concern for the quality of such students being
recruited into nursing (Roos et al., 2016).
In considering all these factors, it is important to remember that the factors that affect
decision-making process for entering into nursing may help predict success or non-
30
success of nursing students. Many students do not have a good understanding of why
they choose nursing, and this may cause them to change their career many times or
leave the nursing training without completing the course (Eick, Williamson & Heath,
2012; Lai et al, 2008). It has been observed that many students who enter nursing at
the age of 35-40 years have both disadvantages and advantages because they have
a shorter working life in service, but they are more mature, responsible and focused
on their nursing career (Flinkman & Salanterä, 2015). Therefore, the academic selec-
tion criteria should involve both extrinsic and intrinsic factors as these interact to influ-
ence an individual’s decision alongside other criteria such as interpersonal skills and
personality (ten Hoeve et al., 2016; Somers, Finch & Birnbaum, 2010).
2.6.3. Image of nursing
One of the main extrinsic factors which may influence the choice to come into nursing
is the image of nursing worldwide (Van Wyk & Meiring, 2013). However, the current
image of nursing is that it is challenging, and this affects nursing prestige, status,
power, and the ability to attract and retain school leavers suitable to the nursing pro-
gramme (Chauke et al., 2015; Van Zyl, 2011). Nurses should portray a professional
image of the nursing career and its prospects so as to give a favourable and attractive
image to nursing students (Chauke et al., 2015). A clear positive image and a good
example may motivate school leavers and nursing students to choose a career in the
nursing sector and inspire them to remain in the nursing field (Nasrin, Soroor & Sood-
abeh, 2012). The image of the nursing profession is directly influenced by how the
public perceive the nursing profession (Achilles, 2010). The public is often influenced
by media representation of nursing, which is based on misconceptions and stereo-
types (Hoeve, Jansen & Roodbol, 2014; Achilles, 2010). In Tawash’s (2016) study it
31
was found that the nursing career was not attractive to the high school students be-
cause of low social value perceived by students.
A study conducted by Natan et al. (2010) in Israel indicated that there is a positive
relationship between nursing student’s decision of choosing a nursing career and the
image of nursing. The more positive image and better the reputation of the nursing
profession, the higher the chances that school leavers will choose nursing as their life
career (Natan et al., 2010). Similarly, a study conducted in Tanzania by Achilles (2010)
found that potential nursing students at times had an idealistic image of nursing and
the decision to enter or withdraw from a nursing course may be a result of the students’
perception of the image of the profession. Nursing students who come into nursing
with an incorrect, idealized idea of nursing need assistance to develop realistic idea of
what nursing is all about (Chauke, 2014).
There is a need to promote nursing as a career choice by improving its image and
reputation (DoH, 2013). Studies in various countries on students’ satisfaction with
nursing have had very divergent results. A study conducted by Milisen, De Busser,
Kayaert, Abraham and De Casterle (2010) on the professional self-image of nursing
students in a baccalaureate programme showed that 95.5% of the students were
pleased to become a nurse and 83% of them would recommend nursing career to
others and they would select nursing again as their career of higher education. In
Varaei, Vaismoradi, Jasper & Faghihzadeh’s (2012) study, only 20% of the nurses
indicated that they would recommend nursing to others. These results were similar to
those of Buerhaus, Donelan, Norman and Dittus (2005) who reported that 36% would
not recommend nursing as a career of choice while 25% of the student nurses in their
survey stated they would recommend nursing to others. These two studies show that
32
most nursing students indicated they are not satisfied with a nursing career and there-
fore, they would keenly discourage someone from choosing a nursing career. How-
ever, in South Africa, Mkhize et al. (2007) indicated that there was still considerable
interest in nursing as a career among South African school leavers.
2.7. Conclusion
The career choice of nursing students is influenced by multiple factors, which need to
be considered in investigating the strategies of recruitment and retention of nursing
students. Improved strategies can lead to a more motivated future nursing workforce
and a reduction of the shortage of nurses. Safadi et al. (2011) stated that for success
and progression of nursing profession in the future, nurse educators need to under-
stand the factors which influence nursing students’ choice of career, in order to know
where support is needed and to assess the curriculum’s strengths and weaknesses.
In this chapter the literature covering the different factors and reasons which can in-
fluence career choice were reviewed. The different factors that can affect career
choice in nursing were highlighted. The next chapter will outline the methodology that
was used to conduct the study.
33
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.1. Introduction
This chapter consists of the research methodology used in this study. The quantitative
approach is described in detail including the descriptive statistics and non-parametric
tests that make for the quantitative approach. In addition, the survey method used,
research paradigm, research setting, population study and the sampling method used
in this study are explained. Furthermore, instrument used, the data collection process,
data analysis, validity and reliability of the study are described. Lastly, ethical issues
are explained.
3.2. Research setting
The research setting for this study was the School of Nursing at a university of the
Western Cape in Western Cape Province of South Africa. The university has different
faculties, with the Bachelor of Nursing located in the Faculty Community of Health
Sciences. This is one of the three universities in the Western Cape, which offers a four
or a five years undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing degree programme. The data was
collected from first years and first foundation Bachelor of Nursing students registered
in the school of nursing, Community Health Science faculty in 2017. It was the chosen
setting as it is the largest nursing school in the Western Cape Province, which offers
a full undergraduate nursing programme. Fulltime and part-time master’s degree in
education, masters in psychiatry, midwifery, and doctorate (Ph.D.) postgraduate pro-
gramme are available as well.
34
The available undergraduate programme at the School of Nursing is the Bachelor of
Nursing (B Nursing), which is in the mainstream of a four-year programme and five
years extended curriculum programme; with the largest number of nursing students in
the country. The school produces a significant number of nursing professionals in the
Western Cape Province. In 2017, one thousand and thirty-six (1036) nursing students
were registered and enrolled in the undergraduate programme, including 279 first-year
students (extended and mainstream program). Therefore, this university was chosen
to be the best setting for my research, as continuous support to the nursing students
is needed to keep them engaged and motivated in a nursing career to ensure good
future quality professionals in a nursing career. All 279 first-year undergraduate nurs-
ing students who registered at the university in the 2017 academic year were included
in the study.
3.3. Research approach
3.3.1. Quantitative approach
The study used a simple quantitative descriptive survey. A quantitative approach al-
lows for the collection of numerical data resulting from a formal instrument such as a
self-administered questionnaire, using structured procedures, which are analysed with
statistical procedures (Polit & Beck, 2012). Furthermore, a quantitative approach is the
most suitable approach to collect quantifiable data, generalised to a group of people
and analysing it using mathematical methods (Brink, Van Der Walt & Rensburg, 2012;
Muijs, 2011). Therefore, quantitative research was used to gather, analyse, evaluate
and quantify the information regarding the factors influencing first-year nursing stu-
dents’ career choice at the University of the Western Cape.
35
3.3.2. Research paradigm
A paradigm can be defined as a shared view of the world and it gives guidance on
how the problems under investigations are solved in the various disciplines (Schwandt,
2001 cited by Chalisa & Kawulisha, 2012). This research project uses quantitative
methodology and fit in the positivistic paradigm. According to a positivist approach, a
research needs to be a measurable and observable phenomenon through observation
or indirectly using a research tool. Scientific knowledge is attained through the accu-
mulation of facts (Chalisa et al, 2012).
Positivism is based on the belief in the existence of objective truth outside of personal
understanding (Creswell, 2013) Thus, within this paradigm, quantitative research
methodology is used to find the truth and objective reality of the phenomena under
investigation (Chalisa et al., 2012; Polit et al., 2012). These rigorous measures are
taken to ensure the validity and objectivity of the research. This study uses a structured
questionnaire in a deductive procedure to examine the factors influencing first-year
nursing students’ career choice at a University in the Western Cape.
3.4. Research design
This study used a descriptive survey design by means of a self-administered ques-
tionnaire to determine the factors which influence first-year nursing students’ career
choice at a university in the Western Cape. A descriptive design is used to describe
and quantify the information on factors of the study by a researcher (Houser, 2012).
Furthermore, a descriptive survey is useful to gain more understanding and a compre-
hensive description of the issues regarding a subject (Haber, 2010). This research
design is used to understand in more detail the factors regarding the nursing career
36
choice at a university in the Western Cape as this can allow for effective planning that
may lead to improvement of current students’ nursing career choices. The survey was
used as the best method to reach a large group of nursing students in a short time in
order to determine their reasons for choosing a nursing career (Mathiyazhagan & Nan-
dan, 2010). This was adopted to find out the different factors that motivated their de-
cision to study nursing, and to find out the reasons that might make them sustain their
choice. In addition, the survey serves to identify the factors that are needed to support
them through their training process so they can become competent professionals and
make nursing their life career.
In this study, the descriptive design was used to present gathered information from the
population. The self-administered questionnaire was an efficient way of collecting nu-
merical data (Brink et al., 2012; Burns & Grove, 2011).
3.5. Population and sampling
A population is the entire group of objects or persons that the researcher is interested
in during his/her research (Brink et al., 2012). The target population for this study is
the first year students in the Bachelor of Nursing. There is a total of 279 individuals,
consisting of 219 first-year Bachelor of Nursing students (mainstream) and 60 first
year ECP nursing students at a university in the Western Cape in 2017.
A sample is a subset of a population selected for a specific study. Sampling refers to
the process of selecting a group of people that represents a population (Burns &
Grove, 2011). The sample of this study was all-inclusive. As the population size was
small and easily accessible, this was the reason all 279 first-year Bachelor of Nursing
students were included as the sample for this study.
37
3.6. Instrument
3.6.1. Description of instrument
The questionnaire was developed by the researcher based on questions identified in
various studies published in the literature review on the factors that influence students’
choice to pursue a career or study nursing. (Dunnion, Dunnion & McBride, 2010; Natan
et al, 2010; Johnson & Cowin, 2013).
The self-administered questionnaire was used as a data collection tool as it was quick
to answer, simple to understand and inexpensive to develop and produce. Validity and
reliability of the data collection tool were tested prior to data collection.
The questionnaire contains closed-ended and Likert scale questions, there are 42
questions in five sections:
Section 1: the questionnaire assesses demographic information from the respondents,
including questions one to eight (1-8). These questions cover age, gender, race, mar-
ital status, nationality, the province of origin, respondent’s year of matric completion
and, activities prior to entering the nursing programme.
Section 2: covers questions related to objective one, which is about assessing stu-
dents’ prior exposure to nursing, and it encompasses question 9-14.
Section 3: includes questions on objective two which is the determination of intrinsic
factors that influence first-year nursing students to choose nursing as a career. It com-
prises the questions from 15-19 and questions 24-25.
38
Section 4: covers the questions on objective two regarding the extrinsic factors influ-
encing nursing students to choose nursing as a career. These are questions 20-23
and 26-28.
Lastly, section five (5) of the instrument includes the questions on objective three re-
garding the understanding of students’ main reasons for choosing nursing as a career.
In this section students must rank the three main reasons according to their im-
portance, from the most important labelled (1), the second most important (2), and the
third most important (3). This section includes questions 29-42.
3.6.2. Validity of the instruments
Validity refers to whether an instrument measures accurately what it is supposed to
measure (Brink et al., 2012). There are two types of validity considered in this study,
namely, face validity and content validity.
Content validity: The instrument was assessed for content validity by assessing how
it measures all objectives (Brink et al., 2012). See Table 1.
39
Table 2: Content validity
Objectives Questionnaire
Demographic information Section 1: Question 1-8
First-year nursing students’ prior exposure to nursing

Section 2: Question 9-14
care
To determine intrinsic factors that influence first-year

Section 3: Question 15-19, 24-25
nursing students to choose nursing career.
To determine the extrinsic factors that influence first-

Section 4: Question 20-23, 26-28
year nursing students to choose a nursing career.
To determine nursing students’ main reasons for

Section 5: Question 29-42
their choice of nursing as a career.
Face validity: The face validity of an instrument refers to the apparent ability of an
instrument to measure what it is supposed to measure: that is how the questionnaire
is perceived by the respondent, its relevance and clarity to the respondent (Brink et
al., 2012). In addition, the instrument is clear to the respondent if the measuring of the
questionnaire goes according to the purpose of the research (Polit et al., 2012). Face
validity is used with content validity in order to have accurate data collection.
The questionnaire was assessed for face validity by an expert in statistics as well as
the supervisor and co-supervisor who are experienced and knowledgeable in statistics
and quantitative research. Lastly, a pre-test was done prior to data collection.
3.6.3. Instrument reliability: Pre-test of instrument
Reliability is the consistency and dependability of the research instrument in measur-
ing variables (Brink et al., 2012). It is necessary to do a pre-test to examine the internal
consistency, feasibility, readability of the research instrument in order to detect mis-
takes which could affect its reliability (Brink et al., 2012). In addition, the pre-test is
40
conducted to assess the appropriateness, quality, and relevance of the instrument
(LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2013). A Chronbach’s alpha test was conducted on data
from section four and five of the questionnaires and the result was in the range from
.70 to .80 which was acceptable (Pallant, 2013).
A pre-test was conducted by a selection of ten voluntary participants from second-year
Bachelor of Nursing in the academic year 2017. These were able to answer the ques-
tionnaire as they belonged in the nursing stream. The second-year nursing students
were also used for pre-test in order to maintain adequate response rate from first year
student in the main study. The questionnaire terms were much easier to understand
and gave meaningful feedback as the respondents were in the nursing field. Lastly, it
was easy to pick out the errors or mistakes in the instruments. Before the respondents
were given the questionnaire and asked to complete it, prior instructions were given,
and consent forms were signed. The respondents were also asked to indicate areas
where they had difficulties. For instance, some words were not understood in section
five about the main reason influencing the career choice. Therefore, small changes in
wording were made to the questionnaire after the pre-test. The researcher also had a
chance to identify the difficulties that might come up during data collection and develop
a procedure that could be used during the process of administering the questionnaire
in the main study.
3.7. Data collection
Data collection is the process of gathering data from the research participants (Burns
et al., 2011). The researcher obtained informed consent from the respondents and
used a self-administered pen and paper questionnaire to collect data. The researcher
administered the questionnaires in a natural setting that was the main hall where the
41
students gathered for recreation at the university in the Western Cape. The question-
naire was in English, as all the nursing students are fluent in English and it is the official
language of the university and in higher education. Completing the questionnaire took
between 15-20 minutes. The permission to access the nursing students was obtained
from the Director of Nursing School, the first-year coordinator, first-year administrator
and lecturers of first-year nursing students. The study was described in detail to the
respondents and informed consent was collected from respondents prior to data col-
lection.
3.7.1. Data collection process
Data collection is the systematic collection of data in line with the subject under inves-
tigation, following specific objectives or question (Grove, Burns & Gray, 2012). The
ethics clearance and necessary permission to conduct the research were granted by
mid-July in the second semester of the 2017 academic year. The first-year level coor-
dinator and lecturers were also first contacted to enquire about the availability of the
first-year nursing students and appointments were arranged via email. A brief expla-
nation regarding the research study was given to the lecturers and the coordinator
before the procedure of data collection commenced. The first-year students were di-
vided into two groups, the first group was having class at the university in the first
week, and the second group was on clinical setting and were back at university in the
following week. The data was collected from each group once they were back at uni-
versity setting (the first group on week one, and the second group on week two). A
suitable venue was booked which was the university hall that can accommodate all
respondents after lectures.
42
The respondents were asked to meet at the venue after lectures and the researcher
gave detailed explanation of the research purpose and information sheets were also
issued. This was done to help the respondents understand what the study was all
about, their rights as respondents and to allow them to ask the questions about any-
thing they did not understand and also to attend to any other inquiry.
The information sheets and consent forms were handed to every respondent. Those
who accepted to participate in the study then completed their forms. This was followed
by the distribution of the questionnaires by the researcher to the respondents who had
voluntarily accepted to participate in the study. All the first-year nursing students were
willing to participate in the study.
The researcher’s details and cell phone number, as well as the contact of the School
of Nursing were provided on the information sheet. The respondents were informed
that they were free to contact the researcher or the department at any time if anyone
had an inquiry regarding the research study. The completed questionnaires and con-
sent forms were coded immediately during and after collection. The allocation of a
code to each questionnaire and consent form was to ensure anonymity.
3.8. Data analysis
The information gathered by the researcher was analysed using the Statistical Pack-
age for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 and data was captured and generated in
quantifiable data as prescribed by Polit et al. (2012). A simple descriptive statistical
method was used to analyse, describe and summarize the quantitative data (Burns et
al., 2011). The following data analysis plan was used:
43
Sample realisation was expressed through the response rate calculation. The de-
mographics of the sample were described. Numerical variables such as age were av-
eraged with standard deviations calculation. Categorical variables such as gender had
frequencies and percentages (%) calculated.
Prior exposure, internal and external factors to nursing was reported using frequencies
and percentages of the agreement with different statements. In addition, the five (5)
point Likert scale from 1=Strongly disagree, 2=Disagree, 3= Neutral, 4=Strongly
agree, 5=Agree, was used to examine the factors which influence the first-year nursing
students’ choice of nursing. This Likert scale was collapsed into a dichotomous scale
of agree (containing both agree, and strongly agree) and disagree (a combination of
strongly disagree, disagree and neutral) to enable frequencies of factors to be re-
ported.
The three main reasons for choosing nursing were ranked in order of importance. It
was quantified according to 1 (most important reason), 2 (second important reason)
and 3 (third important reason). Bar graphs and tables were used to illustrate the key
findings. The relevant associations between demographics, prior-exposure, and the
main reason and factors that influence first-year nursing student were tested using
non-parametric statistics, The Mann-Whitney U test for comparison of the groups. Chi-
square test (or Fisher Exact test) and Kruskal Wallis test were used to analyse and
interpret the data, each variable was attended, investigated and interpreted based on
the objectives used to find out the factors and the reasons influencing the first-year
nursing students career choice at a university in the western Cape.
The instrument reliability was checked and the Chronbach’s alpha test was calculated
to establish the internal consistency of the instruments in 14 items of the Likert scale
44
questions in section three and four. These questions included intrinsic and extrinsic
factors. For intrinsic and extrinsic factors, see Table 2. The Chronbach α for intrinsic
factors were >.80 which are statistically acceptable, and for the extrinsic factors range
from.60 to .70 which were deemed an adequate reliability (Pallant, 2013).
3.9. Ethics
Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the University of the West-
ern Cape. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Director of the
School of Nursing and the Academic Registrar. The following ethical principles were
observed:
3.9.1. Informed consent
The researcher ensured that all the respondents were informed on what study is all
about and what is expected of them as respondents and then supplied respondents
with an information sheet. In addition to this, the respondents were explained why they
were specifically selected to take part in the study, and they were informed that the
participation in this study was voluntary. The respondents were made aware that the
information regarding to the research study was going to be used with the required
level of anonymity. The respondents’ right to change their minds, at any time without
penalty was explained, and lastly, they were asked to sign a consent form.
3.9.2. Respect for the person
The respondents’ autonomy was respected which means that every individual had the
right to choose to participate or not, and that the participation in the research study
45
was voluntary (Brink et al., 2012). Individual self-determination was a priority. The re-
spondent had a choice of whether to participate in the study or not without prejudice
or penalty for not doing so.
3.9.3. The principle of beneficence
The researcher ensured that any harm was minimized to the nursing students who
participated in the research study (Polit et al., 2012). The researcher tried to ensure
that the respondents experience no harm. The questionnaire did not contain any sen-
sitive issues, but if respondents suffered any distress from filling in the questionnaire,
a debriefing was planned by the researcher to facilitate with sessions if needed by
such respondents (Brink et al., 2012).
3.9.4. Privacy/Anonymity
The right to privacy of the respondents was respected. The respondents remained
anonymous and the data remained confidential. The questionnaires were identified by
a number code and were kept in a safe place, in a locked cupboard. The data de-
identified on secure personal computer, and the password was used to access the
data by researcher. The data were kept secure more than five years after the study.
3.10. Conclusion
This chapter describes the research methodology that was used to investigate the
factors influencing first-year nursing students’ career choice at a university in the West-
ern Cape in the year 2017. The setting which was the School of Nursing at a university
in the Western Cape was discussed. The population under study was the 2017 first-
year Bachelor of nursing students. The respondents voluntarily accepted to complete
46
the questionnaire. Furthermore, the approach and design were quantitative descrip-
tive, and details were given. The questionnaire used was developed by the researcher
using the literature review, the appropriateness, quality, and relevance were checked
in a pre-test and an expert in statistics approved the questionnaire. Authorization to
carry out the study was sought from the Ethics Committee and from the director of the
Nursing School at the University of the Western Cape. Also, the ethical considerations
in this study were discussed in this chapter. The first-year coordinator and lecturer
were contacted for arrangements for data collection. SPSS version 25 was used to
analyse the data collected. The next chapter includes the results of the study.
47
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS
4.1. Introduction
The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors (reasons) influencing first- year
nursing students’ career choice at a university in the Western Cape, South Africa. In
this chapter, the results of this study are presented in five parts related to the objec-
tives: sample realization and demographics of respondents, prior exposure to nursing;
the main reasons students choose nursing as a career; and the intrinsic (personal)
and extrinsic (environmental) factors which influence nursing students to choose nurs-
ing.
4.2 Sample realization
The study population was comprised of first-year nursing students admitted in the year
2017 at a university in the Western Cape (n=279) at the time of the survey. At the time
of data collection, 52 students were not present and a total of 227 questionnaires were
handed out to the first-year Bachelor nursing students. A total of 224 questionnaires
were returned while three questionnaires were not. In addition, six (6) questionnaires
were incomplete and were excluded in the final analysis, resulting in a total of 218
questionnaires (total response rate = 78.19%) included for analysis.
4.3. Demographic characteristics of the respondents
Most of the respondents were female (179, 82.1%) with only 39 male respondents
(17.9%). Nearly all the respondents were younger than 21 years of age with an aver-
age age of 20.5 years (± 3.9, 18 to 44 years) (Table 1)
48
Table 3: Age and gender of respondents
Gender Male (n=39, 18.0%) Female (n=177, 82.0%) All (n=216)

Age 19.9 (±1.5) 20.6 (±4.3) 20.5 (±3.9)
The highest representative race group was black African respondents (135, 61.9%),
followed by coloured (62, 28. %), white (19, 8.7%) with only two (2) Indians/Asian
respondents (0.9%). There was a significantly higher proportion of black males than
males in all the other population groups with 32.7% (32) compared to 11% (7) coloured
with no white or Indian males (X2=9.5, p=.023). Most of the respondents were single
(211, 96. 8%) with only seven married respondents (7, 3.2%). With regards to nation-
ality, most of the respondents were South African (200, 91.7%), the remaining re-
spondents 8.3% were international students. Just over half of the respondents were
from the Western Cape with (128, 58.7%), followed by respondents from the Eastern
Cape (52, 23.9%), Gauteng (16, 7.3%), and 18 (8.3%) from the rest of the provinces.
Most of the respondents (136, 62.4%) were fresh from school the previous year, with
36 (16.5%) reporting that they were working, and 18 (8.3%) of respondents were doing
tertiary studies (Table 4).
Table 4: Demographic characteristics of the respondents
Total Female Male Test

Demographic p-value
(n=218) (n=179) (n=39) X2
Race and gender

Black 135(62%) 103(76.3%) 32(32.7%)
Coloured 62(28.3%) 55(88.7%) 7(11.3%)
X2=9.520 . 023
White 19(8.7%) 19(100%) 0(0.0%)
Indian 2(1%) 2(100%) 0(0.0%)
Total 218(100%) 179(100%) 39(100%)
Marital status-Gender
Single 210(96.4%) 171(78.5%) 39(17.9%) X2=1.809 .405
Married 7(3.2%) 7(3.2%) 0(0.0%)
Divorced 1(0.4%) 1(0.4%) 0(0.0%)
49
Total 218(100%) 179(82.1%) 39(17.9%)
Nationality –Gender
South African 200(100%) 163(81.5%) 37(18.5%)
X2=0.614% .433
Others 18(100%) 16(88.9%) 2(11.1%)
Total 2018(100%) 179(82.1%) 39(17.9%)
Province of origin-gender
Western Cape 128(100%) 110(85.9%) 18(14.1%)
Eastern Cape 52(100%) 36(69.2%) 16(30.8%)
Gauteng 16(100%) 15(93.8%) 1(6.2%)
Mpumalanga 8(100%) 7(87.5%) 1(12.5%) .09
X2=13.602
Free State 4(100%) 2(100%) 0(0.0%)
Limpopo 4(100%) 2(50%) 2(50%)
KwaZulu-Natal 3(100%) 2(66.7%) 1(33.3%)
None of these 4(100%) 4(100%) 0(0.0%)
Total 218(100%) 179(82.1%) 39(17.9%)
Year of matric completion
<2014 33(100%) 31(94%) 2(6%)
2014-2015 57(100%) 41(72%) 16(28%) X2=9.309 .930
2016 127(100%) 106(83.5%) 21(16.5%)
Total 217(100%) 178(82%) 39(18%)
Activity prior-nursing-Gender
School 136(100%) 111(81.6%) 25(18.4%)
Working 36(100%) 31(86.1%) 5(13.9%)
X2=2.391 .793
Tertiary study 18(100%) 16(88.9%) 2(11.1%)
Others 22(100%) 16(72.8%) 6(27.2%)
Total 212(100%) 174(82%) 38(18%)
Chi-square (Fisher Exact Tests where appropriate(X2). Significant at P<.05
4.4. Nursing students’ prior exposure to nursing
To assess the possible influence of prior exposure to nursing, respondents were asked
to identify their exposure to nursing before studying nursing (Table 5). More than three
quarters of the respondents reported that they knew someone who was working as a
nurse (192, 88.1%). There were differences in prior exposure to nursing between the
genders groups with a significantly higher percentage of females having significantly
higher prior exposure to healthcare training in the item (Have you ever done healthcare
50
training ?) than males (44, 24.6% vs. 4, 10.3%, X2 =3.8, p=.05), and only female re-
spondents reported having been previously employed in the healthcare system in the
item (Have you ever been employed in the healthcare system?), which was reported
only by female respondents (X2=5.3, p=.017).
Table 5: Prior exposure to nursing
Total Male Female Test

Prior exposure to nursing p-value
(n=218) (n=39) (n=179) X2
Have you ever done any healthcare train-
48(22.0%) 4 (10.3%) 44 (24.6%) X2=3.8 .050
ing?
Have you ever been employed in the
22(10.1%) 0(0.0%) 22 (12.3%) X2=5.3 .017
healthcare?
Have you ever been looked after by a nurse
130(59.6%) 26 (66.7%) 104 (58.1%) X2=1.0 .323
when you were sick or ill?
Have you ever looked after a relative or a
178(81.7%) 32 (82.1%) 146 (81.6%) X2=.005 .943
friend who was sick?
Is there anyone that you know who is work-
192(88.1%) 34 (87.2%) 158 (88.3%) X2=.04 .790
ing in the healthcare system as a nurse?
Chi-square (Fisher Exact Tests where appropriate(X2). Significant at P<.05
Of the 192 respondents who knew someone in nursing, prior to choosing to study
nursing, most of the respondents reported having relatives, namely an aunt (54,
54/192), followed by a friend (34,15.6%), a father (3,1.4%) or an uncle (2, 0.9%).
Though male and female respondents reported that the most common person in nurs-
ing they were exposed to were their aunts [male 10(25%) and female 54(24.6%)],
more female respondents reported that this person was a friend 32(17.9%) but there
were no significant differences.
4.5. Reasons for choosing nursing as a career in order of importance
The respondents were asked to rank the three main reasons out of a total of 14 pos-
sible reasons that influenced their decision to enter nursing as a career in order of
importance (1=first important), (2=second important) and 3=third important).
51
Overall, having a passion for nursing (71, 32.6%) was the most commonly rated rea-
son for choosing nursing as a career (Figure1). The overall rate was 127 responses
as either first, second or third important reason. Passion for nursing was the highest
rated reason as the ‘first important reason. It was ranked as second (34, 26.8%) and
third important (22, 17.3%). Followed by I like to help others (38, 35.2%) in first most
important reason, as the second important (39, 17.9%) and third (14.2%). In the third
place Nursing has a stable job (27, 36.0%) rated as the most important common first,
as second important (rated reason for having chosen nursing as a career (Table 4).
Having a passion for nursing was also ranked second as the most important reason
(34, 15.6%) and third as the most important reason (22, 10.1%) (Table 6).
Table 6: Main reasons for choosing nursing as a career

1st 2nd 3rd
Reason I choose nursing (All =218) important important Important Total/%
choice choice choice
I have passion for nursing 71(32.6%) 34(15.6%) 22(10.1%) 127(58.0%)
I like to help others. 38(17.4%) 39(17.9%) 31(14.2%) 108(49.6%)
Nursing is a stable job 27(12.4%) 26(11.9%) 22(10.1%) 75(34.4%)
I am doing nursing as a stepping stone 15(6.9%) 10(4.6%) 16(7.3%) 41(18.9%)
I want to make a difference in the society 14(6.4%) 34(15.6%) 17(7.8%) 65(29.9%)
Nursing was my second option to studying 13(6.0%)
8(3.7%) 11(5.0%) 32(14.7%)
Medicine
Nursing was my dream since I was a child 12(5.5%) 7(3.2%) 22(10.1%) 41(18.9%)
I want to be a role model in my family as a 7(3.2%) 9(4.1%) 17(7.8%)
33(15.2%)
nurse.
There are many opportunities in nursing 6(2.8%) 27(12.4%) 25(11.5%)
58(26.7%)
field
I will be able to get a bursary to study 4(1.8%) 4(1.8%) 14(6.4%)
22(10.1%)
Nursing
Nursing is an interesting profession 3(1.4%) 11(5.0%) 13(6.0%) 27((12.4%)
Nursing profession has a good reputation 1(0.5%) 1(0.5%) 2(0.9%) 4(1.9%)
Nursing is a prestigious profession 0(0.0%0 2(0.9%) 8(3.7%) 10(4.6%)
Nursing has flexible shifts. 0(0.0%) 2(0.9%) 0(0.0%) 2(0.9%)
52
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
1st Choice 2nd Choice 3rd Choice
Figure 1: The main reasons for choosing nursing as a career in order of importance
Main reasons for choosing nursing as career (Female)
For female respondents, the highest rated reason for choosing nursing was I have a
passion for Nursing followed by I like helping others (Table 7 and Figure 2).
Table 7: Main reasons for choosing nursing as a career (Female)
1st 2nd 3rd

Reason I chose nursing (Female) important important important
I have passion for nursing 64(35.8%) 26(14.5%) 12(11.7%)
I like to help others. 33(18.4%) 34(19.0%) 24(8.4%)
Nursing is a stable job 17(7.8%) 19(8.8%) 21(9.7%)
I am doing nursing as a stepping stone to another career 14(6.5%) 7(3.3%) 15(6.9%)
Nursing was my second option to studying Medicine 13(6.0%) 8(3.7%) 10(4.6%)
I want to make a difference in the society 11(5.1%) 32(14.7%) 14(6.5%)
Nursing was my dream since I was a child 5(2.3%) 9(4.3%) 15(6.9%)
I want to be a role model in my family as a nurse 5(2.3%) 9(4.3%) 15(6.9%)
There are many opportunities in nursing field 5(2.3%) 21(9.7%) 22(10.1%)
Nursing is an interesting profession 2(0.9%) 5(2.3%) 12(5.6%)
I will be able to get a bursary to study nursing 1(0.5%0 3(1.4%) 11(5.1%)
Nursing profession has a good reputation 0(0.0%) 0(0.0%) 1(0.5%)
53
Nursing is a prestigious profession 0(0.0%) 2(0.9%) 7(3.3%)
Nursing has flexible shifts. 0(0.0%) 2(0.9%) 0(0.0%)
I have a passion for nursing was also the most common reason ranked first important
reason (64, 35.8%), respondents chose nursing as a career (Table 7). I have a passion
for nursing was followed by I liked to help others (33, 18.4%) and that Nursing is a
stable job as the most common first-rated reason for having chosen nursing as a ca-
reer (17,7.8%) (Table 7).
I have a passion for nursing also ranked as the second rated reason (26, 14.5%) for
the second important reason and the third important reason for choosing nursing as a
career (12, 11.7%) (Table 7).
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Figure 2: Main reasons for choosing nursing as career (Female)
Main reasons for choosing nursing as a career (Male)
For males, the overall highest rated reason for choosing nursing was Nursing have a
stable job (10,25.6%). It was followed by I have a passion for nursing (7,17.9%) and
54
that I liked to help others (5,12.8%) as the most common first ranked reason for having
chosen nursing as a career in male. (Table 8).
Nursing was my second choice to studying medicine (19,48.7%) had the highest over-
all rating as the second important choice (Figure 3). Nursing is a stable job was also
the second rated for second important choice (8, 20.5%) followed by Helping others
(7,17.9%).
Table 8: Main reasons for choosing nursing as a career (Male)
1st 2nd 3rd

Reason I chose Nursing (Male)
important important important Total
Nursing is a stable job 10(25.6%) 8(20.5%) 10(25.6%) 28(71.7%)
I have passion for nursing 7(17.9%) 5(12.8%) 7(17.9%) 19(48.6%)
I like to help others. 5(12.8%) 7(17.9%) 1(2.6%) 13(33.3%)
I am doing nursing as a stepping stone 4(10.3%) 0(0.0%) 6(15.4%) 10(25.7%)
Nursing was my dream since I was a child 4(10.3%) 3(7.7%) 1(2.6%) 8(20.6%)
I will be able to get a bursary to study nursing 3(7.7%) 0(0.0%) 1(2.6%) 4(10.3%)
I want to be a role model in my family as a
2(5.1%) 0(0.0%) 6(15.4%) 8(20.5%)
nurse.
I want to make a difference in the society 1(2.6%) 0(0.0%) 2(5.1%) 3(7.7%)
There are many opportunities in nursing field 1(2.6%) 6(15.4%) 3(7.7%) 10(25.7%)
Nursing is an interesting profession 1(2.6%) 1(2.6%) 3(7.7%) 5(12.9%)
Nursing profession has a good reputation 1(2.6%) 1(2.6%) 1(2.6%) 3(7.8%)
Nursing was my second option to medicine 0(0.0%) 19(48.7%) 1(2.6%) 20(51.3%)
Nursing is a prestigious profession 0(0.0%) 0(0.0%) 1(2.6%) 1(2.6%)
Nursing has flexible shifts. 0(0.0%) 0(0.0%) 0(0.0%) 0(0.0%)
Only one respondent chose Nursing is a prestigious profession as a third choice while
Nursing has flexible shifts was rated zero in the first, second and third important
choice.
55
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Figure 3: Main reasons for choosing nursing as career (Male)
4.6. Intrinsic factors that influence first-year nursing students’ choice of a
nursing as career.
In assessing the perceptions of the respondents on the intrinsic or personal individual
factors that may have influenced their choice of nursing as a career, respondents were
asked to rate the following statements: Helping others; Making a difference in society;
Nursing as interesting profession; Being a role model in family as a nurse; Having
passion about nursing; Nursing as a prestigious profession; Nursing was my dream
since I was a child.
The most common or highest reasons rated by the respondents were: Helping others
(206, 94.5%) and wanting to make a difference in society (205, 94. 0%). This was
followed by Nursing as an interesting profession (182, 83.5%); Being a role model in
family as nurse (177, 81.2%); Being passionate in nursing (175,80.3%); lastly Nursing
56
as prestigious profession (155, 71.1%); Nursing as dream since their childhood were
not highly rated with only (74, 33.9%) of respondents rating this item (Table 9).
Table 9: Intrinsic factors that may influence first-year nursing students’ choice
of nursing career

Statement p-value
(n=218) (n=39) (n=179) X2
I like to help others 206 (94.5%) 34(87.2%) 172(96.1%) 4.9 .027

I want to make difference in society 205 (94.0%) 35(89.7%) 170(95.0%) 1.6 .212
Nursing is an interesting profession 182 (83.5%) 27(69.2%) 155(86.6%) 7.0 .008
I want to be a role model in my family
177 (81.2%) 27(69.2%) 150(83.8%) 4.4 .035
as nurse.
I am passionate about nursing. 179 (82.1%) 24(61.5%) 155(86.6%) 10.5 .001
Nursing is a prestigious profession. 155 (71.1%) 22(56.4%) 133(74.3%) 4.9 .026
Nursing was my dream since I was a
74 (33.9%) 10(25.6%) 64(35.8%) 1.5 .227
child.
2
Chi-square (Exact Tests where appropriate(X ). Significance set as p<.05
There were significant differences in the ratings of the intrinsic factors between males
and females. Females compared to males rated the following statements higher,
namely: I like to help others (172, 96.1% vs. 34, 87. 2%, X2=4.9, p=.027; Nursing is
interesting profession (155, 86.6% vs. 27, 69.2%, X2=7.0, p=.008); I’m passionate
about nursing (155, 86.6% vs. 24,61, 5%, X2=10.5, p=.001); I want to be a role model
in my family as a nurse (150,83.8% vs. 27, 69.2%, X2=4.4, p=.035); and lastly nursing
is a prestigious profession (133, 74.3% vs. 22, 56.4%, X2=4.9, p=.026) (Table 9).
4.7. Extrinsic factors that may influence first-year students’ choice of nursing
as career
In order to assess the perceptions of the respondents on extrinsic factors that may
have influenced them to choose nursing as a career, respondents were asked to rate
the following statements: Have a stable job; There are many opportunities in nursing
field; Getting bursary to study nursing; Nursing has a good reputation; Doing nursing
57
as stepping stone to another career; Nursing as second choice to other health related
professions, and nursing has flexible shift.
The highest-rated factors by respondents (196, 89.90%) were that; Nursing have the
stable job, secondly (190, 87.2%); There are many opportunities in nursing field; Get-
ting bursary to study nursing (142, 65.1%); Good reputation of nursing profession (141,
64.7%); Doing nursing as stepping stone to another career (121, 55.5%); and Nursing
was my second choice to the other health-related career (114, 52.3%). Only, 85 (39%)
rated Flexible shifts of nursing profession as a factor to choose nursing as career (Ta-
ble 10).
Table 10: Extrinsic factors that influence first-year nursing students’ choice of
nursing as career

Statement P-value
(n=218) (n=39) (n=179) X2
Nursing have a stable job. 196(89.9%) 35(89.7%) 161(89.9%) X2=.01 0.97

There are many opportunities in 154(86.0%) X 1.126
2=
190(87.2%) 36(92.3%) 0.289
nursing field
I can get a bursary to study nurs-
142(65.1%) 25(69.2%) 117(65.4%) X2=.002 0.881
ing
Nursing profession has a good
141(64.7%) 24(61. %) 117(65.4%) X2=.205 0.651
reputation
I am doing nursing as a stepping
121(55.5%) 27(69.2% 94(52.5%) X2=3.623 0.057
stone to another career
Nursing was my second choice to
the other health related profes- 114(52.3%) 26(66.7%) 88(49.2%) X2=3.933 0.047
sions
Nursing has flexible shifts 85(39.0%) 7(43.6%) 68(38.0%) X2=.422 0.516
2
Chi-square (Exact Tests where appropriate (X ). Significance set at p<.05
There were significant differences in the ratings of some of the extrinsic factors be-
tween males and female respondents for two factors, namely: I’m doing nursing as
stepping stone to another career, (Male 27, 69.2% vs. Female 94, 52.5%, X2=3.623, p
=.0.05) and female respondents rated nursing was my second choice to the other
58
health professions lower than male respondents (Male 26, 66.7% vs. Female 88,
49.2%, X2=3.933, p =.004).
4.8. Demographic factors influence on factors influencing choosing nursing as
a career
4.8.1. Influence of Gender on Intrinsic and Extrinsic factors
Significant associations were found for gender and seven factors influencing a choice
of nursing as a career among the fourteen factors (extrinsic and intrinsic) considered
(Table 9 & Table 10). The affected factors are discussed below.
Male respondents rated lower than female respondents on the following factors that
may influence a choice in nursing as a career: ‘Nursing was my second choice’ was
significantly rated lower by female respondents (3.11 ±1.48 vs. 3.67±1.35, U=-2.224,
p=.026).
Males rated the following factors significantly lower than females: I am passionate
about nursing (3.69 ± 1.09 vs. 4.40, ± 0.80, U=-4.202 P=<.001); I want to make differ-
ence in the society (4.28 ± 0.98 vs. 4.65 ±0.64, U =-2.846 p = 0.004);I like to help
others (4.28 ± 0.86 vs. 4.70 ± 0.59,U = -3.709, p = <.001) I want to be a role model in
my family as a nurse (4.05 ± 0.83 vs. 4.37 ± 0.95, U = -2.533 p=.011); Nursing is a
prestigious profession (3.82±0.99 vs. 4.34±0.83, U= -2.859 p=.040); and Nursing is an
interesting profession (3.82±0.99 vs. 4.34, ±0.83, U=-3.329 p=<.001.
4.8.2. Race influence on choice of nursing as career.
There were significant differences across race groups in two factors. Indian respond-
ents rated I am passionate about nursing significantly lower than the other race groups
59
(Indian =3.5 ±0.707, Black African=4.2 ± 0.969, Coloured=4.3 ±0.767 and White=4.8
±0.535) K=10.9, p=.013). Similarly, Indian respondents rated Nursing was my second
choice after other health subjects much higher than other respondents (Indian=5.0
(.000), Black African =3.29 (1.486), Coloured=3.19 (1.365) &White = 2.53(1.465)
4.8.3. Marital status influence on choice of nursing as career
There were significant differences in the ratings between married and single respond-
ents across three factors. Single respondents rated the following factors higher than
married respondents: I am passionate about nursing significance higher than married
respondents (4.25, ± 0.903 vs. 5.00, ± 0.0, K=7.016, p=.030); Nursing has a bursary
(3.79(1.41) vs. 2.00(1.55), K=13.060 p=.001); and Nursing was my second choice af-
ter other health subjects higher than married respondents (Single:3.26, 1.452; Married
:1.71, ± 0.951, K=8.171 p=.017).
4.8.4. Nationality influence on choice of nursing as a career.
Only three factors were significantly associated with the nationality of the respondents.
South African respondents rated the following factors lower than other nationalities:
South African respondents rated Nursing was my dream since I was a child signifi-
cantly lower (2.93, ±1.242 vs. 4.00, ±1.283, U=-3.167 p=.002); and Nursing profession
has a good reputation (SA [3.76 ± 1.004 vs. others 4.56 ± 0.511, U=-3.397 p =.001)].
However, the third factor: I can get bursary was rated significantly higher by the South
African respondents (3.79, ± 1.151vs. 3.11, 1.3 ± 67, U=-2.117 p =.034).
60
4.9. The influence of previous exposure influence on choice of nursing as ca-
reer.
To measure previous exposure, three prior exposure factors and their influence on the
choice of nursing as a career were considered: Previous exposure to the health sys-
tem in training (n=48, 22%), being employed prior to nursing in the health system
(n=22, 10.1%) and prior contact with someone in nursing (n=130, 59.6%).
4.9.1. Personal training or work in the health system and choice of nursing as
career.
It was hypothesized that having prior training in health would have an association with
the intrinsic and extrinsic factors which may influence choosing nursing. Four factors
were significantly rated higher by respondents with previous training compared to
those without training, namely: 1) I am passionate about nursing (4.76, ± 0.57 vs. 4.29,
± 0.93, U=3.285 p=.001); 2) I want to make a difference in society (4.79, ± 0.51 vs.
4.53, ±0.77, U=-2.515 p=.012); 3) Nursing was my dream since I was a child (3.40, ±
1.198 vs. 2.91, ± 1.29, U=-2.226 p=.026); lastly 4) I can get bursary to study nursing
(3.19, ± 1.46 vs. 3.63, ± 1.11, U=-3.498 P=.001).
4.9.2. Prior employment and choice of nursing as career.
It was hypothesized that having prior been employed in health would have an associ-
ation with the intrinsic and extrinsic factors which may influence choosing nursing. Two
factors were significantly rated higher by respondents with previous employment,
namely: Nursing was my dream since I was a child (3.82 , ± 1.17 vs. 2.92, ± 1.26,
U=-3.165 p=.002; and I’m passionate about nursing (4.73 , ± 0.631 vs.4.22 , ± 0.91
61
U=-2.796 p=.005).However two factors were significantly rated lower in extrinsic fac-
tors by respondents with previous employment, namely: Nursing was my second
choice to the other health related professions (2.92 , ± 1.49 vs. 3.29, ± 1.45, U=-2.357
p=.018); and I can get bursary to study nursing (3.19 , ± 1.266 vs. 3.83 , ± 1.14, U=-
3.683 p=<.001).
4.9.3. Prior contact with nursing and choice of nursing as career
It was hypothesized that prior contact with someone in nursing may influence a choice
of nursing as a career.
Having looked after by a nurse when you were sick or ill resulted were significantly
higher ratings for: I’m passionate about nursing (4.40, ± 0. 87; vs 4.08, ± 0.92 U=-
2.933 p= .003); and I like to help others (4.68, ± 0.64 vs. 4.55, ± 0.70 U=-1.922 p=055).
Similarly, Having looked after a relative or friend who were sick resulted in significantly
higher ratings for six factors, namely: Nursing was my dream since I was a child (3.10,
± 1.27 vs. 2.68 , ± 1.29, U=-2.940 p=.054); Nursing has a flexible shift (3.19, ± 1.17
vs. 2.65 , ± 1.21, U=-2.456 p= .014); I’m passionate about nursing (4.36, ± 0.87 vs.
3.87 , ± 0.93, U=-3.261 p =.001); Nursing have a stable Job (4.42 , ± 0.76 vs. 4.42,
± 0.64 U=-3.014 p=.002); I like to help others (4.67, ± 0.67vs 4.42, 0. ± 64 U=-2.963
= p.003); and I want to make a different in the society (4.67, ± 0.60 vs. 4.27, ± 0.92
U=-2.940 p = .003).
Knowing someone who’s working in healthcare system as a nurse resulted in signifi-
cantly higher ratings for Nursing is an interesting profession (4.30, ± 0.87 vs. 3.85, ±
0.88 U=-2.885 p=.004).
62
4.10. Conclusion
The findings of this study were described in this chapter addressing the objectives of
the study. The descriptive statistics, chi-square test (or Fisher Exact test) and Kruskal
Wallis test were used to analyse and interpret the data, each variable was attended,
investigated and interpreted based on objectives to find out the factors and the rea-
sons influencing the first-year nursing students career choice at a university in the
western Cape. The following chapter will discuss the findings in detail in the context of
other literature.
63
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
5.1. Introduction
This chapter discusses the findings of the study on nursing students’ career choice at
a university in the Western Cape. To this end, the chapter discusses the profile of first-
year nursing students, and addresses the objectives of the study, namely highlighting
the first-year nursing students’ main reasons for choosing nursing as a career sup-
ported by their ratings of the importance of various intrinsic (personal) and extrinsic
(environmental) factors, including prior exposure to nursing care.
5.2. Profile of nursing students
As expected, most of the respondents were from the Western Cape, South African
residents, mostly black African students (62%), with a female to male ratio of 4:1 and
an average age of 20.5 years. This highlights the diversity within this nursing school
and it’s a good sign as nursing needs a multicultural and diverse workforce to reflect
the core values of the nursing profession (Cowin et al., 2011). It confirms that the
nursing profession is attracting young people into a nursing career as most of the re-
spondents were under the age of 21 years. This is consistent with the findings of other
South African studies on nursing recruitment by Khalaila (2015) and Abraham (2017)
who reported an average age of respondents to be under 21 years. These findings are
in contrast with some overseas studies such as in Italy, which showed that the nursing
students were more likely to choose nursing as career at an older age (Dante,
Graceffa, Del Bello, Rizzi, Landerca, Battistella & Palesa, 2014).
64
The gender ratio (4:1) of nursing students in this school is in line with both national
and the Western Cape nursing students’ gender ratio of 4:1 for the year 2018. This
ration however is much lower than that of registered nurse nationally which stood at
9:1 and much lower to that of the Western Cape at 12:1 (SANC, 2019). This study’s
respondents’ gender ratio is also lower than that quoted in other studies (Abraham,
2017, Kabanya et al., 2016; Khalala, 2015; Halperin et al., 2014). In the US the ratio
varies from 5:1 in Hawaii to 12:1 in Kentucky (Rappleye, 2015).
Historically, the nursing profession gender ratio shows that nursing is a female- dom-
inated profession (Abudari et al., 2016; Olivier, 2010) and it is believed that there is a
need to recruit more males into the profession to ensure a balanced gender nursing
profession in the 21st century in (Barret-Landau & Henle, 2014). Pool (2012) states
that the changing roles of males and females in society encourage males to view nurs-
ing more broadly than they did in the past and consider it as a viable career. This shift
in attitude might go some way to improving the current universal nursing shortages
and provide an opportunity for male nurses’ talents to complement female nurses’ tal-
ents. A nursing workforce with both male and female nurses working together may
change group dynamics, gender differences and may even bring about improvement
in social conditions (Mollo & Moss, 2016). Different studies reported an increase in the
number of males in the nursing profession as a positive aspect and they urged nursing
institutions to alleviate the barriers facing male nurses in their career choice in order
to enhance and market nursing as career of choice for both female and male individ-
uals (Abudari et al., 2016; Moore & Dienemann, 2014; Phillips et al., 2014; Meadus et
al., 2011; McLaughlin et al., 2010).
65
5.2.1. Choosing nursing as career and the factors influencing nursing career
choice
The main finding of this study was that the first two ranked reasons for choosing nurs-
ing as a career were that respondents were passionate about nursing and liked to help
others. Nursing is a noble career and employed nurses are commonly viewed by so-
ciety as being altruistic, caring, compassionate and passionate (Price et al., 2013) so
it is encouraging that these values were identified as the main reasons for respond-
ents.
This finding is in line with other studies. A study conducted by Natan et al. (2010),
reported that passion for nursing topped the reasons why individuals chose to study
nursing. In the Philippines, it was reported that an innate passion attracted nursing
students to pursue nursing careers (Montayre, Montayre, & Bandong, 2016). Other
studies have also reported that respondents were attracted to nursing for altruistic
reasons (Wu et al., 2015; Halperin et al., 2014; Jirwe et al., 2012; Dunnion et al., 2010).
Thus, although Cowin et al. (2011) reported that nursing qualities are changing, spe-
cifically, that they are shifting away from caring it seems that the core value of caring
in nursing accompanied by compassion and a desire to help others remains in modern
nurses.
This study thus shows that these nursing students have some of the core characteris-
tics required in a nursing profession namely; qualities of respect, and regard for the
dignity of humankind, interest in people, good interpersonal skills, personal maturity,
sensitivity, sympathy, tolerance, friendliness and a lack of discrimination (De Cooman
et al., 2008; Kabanya et al., 2016). This finding lends hope to the idea that young
nurses will keep the internal desire which attracted them to the service of the society.
66
The finding comes with the provision that once recruited, support is needed in order
to keep nurses motivated and retain them in their chosen areas of specialisation (Liaw
et al., 2016). To achieve this, reinforcement and good facilitation and role modelling
by nurse educators may be key for these nursing students to develop positive charac-
teristics and values of the nursing profession (Lim & Muhtar, 2016).
Nursing being considered as a stable job was the third main reason ranked by re-
spondents as a reason influencing their career choice in nursing but over half of the
respondents (55.5%) ranked a bursary as an external factor which may influence a
choice in nursing. This confirmed similar findings in studies conducted in South Africa
by (Cupido, 2017; Roos et al., 2016), which reported that nursing students were mainly
attracted by bursary offers and that the economic situation in the country determines
how nursing is chosen. Similarly, Jeptha’s (2008) findings in South Africa also show
that the students were attracted to nursing by bursary offers. The government provides
nursing bursaries to the Department of Health to enable those who want to do nursing
to be able to study (Jeptha, 2008; Cupido, 2017).
5.2.3 Gender differences in choosing nursing.
In this study, the reasons for choosing nursing varied between male and female re-
spondents: more females indicated a passion for nursing as opposed to most males
who chose nursing as a stable career as their main reason. Indeed, the female stu-
dents reported an internal desire to help people and passion to nurse as the main
reason for choosing nursing as career, which was again similar to studies on the nurs-
ing values of nurses published elsewhere (Natan et al., 2010). On the other hand,
males’ overall highest rated reason for choosing nursing was that nursing provides
67
stable jobs. Nursing was my second choice was the second highest overall rating,
followed by I have passion for nursing and I like to help others.
Showing extrinsic motivation for choosing nursing, male nurses were inclined to ex-
trinsic factors more than female nurses, such as flexible hours, salary, future earning
potential, opportunity for advancement, autonomy, flexibility to leave and return to the
workforce, employment security and travel opportunities (Moore et al., 2014; Al Jarrah,
2013). However, less than 10% of the female respondents indicated that they chose
nursing because of its job stability. In contrast, nearly three quarters of male respond-
ents (71.7%) identified the main reason for choosing nursing is the fact that nursing
presents a stable source of income with a stable job guaranteed.
This finding in male respondents is like the findings of a study on Israeli male immi-
grants and Jewish born nurses where the male nurses were interested in the job se-
curity of the nursing profession (Natan et al., 2010). Similarly, a study conducted by
Twomey and Meadus (2016), reported that the main reasons for males joining nursing
were helping others, availability of a secure job and nursing being challenging work.
South Africa, with its high rate of unemployment and economic instability among the
youth, with youth unemployment being at 27.1% in 2018 (Stats SA, 2018), should
make school leavers be drawn to a choice of a career where there is a hope of getting
a job. According to the census done in different countries in the world in the year 2017,
South Africa was the top country with the youth (15-24 years) having the highest un-
employment rate (57.4%) and local survey conducted on the youth of 15-35 years in
2018, found youth unemployment of around 38.2% (Daniel, 2018). Monetary reasons
were also seen in the literature of other countries as the attraction into a career in
68
nursing (Tanalp, Ilguy, Dikbas & Oktay, 2012) and financial reasons such as job op-
portunity and security were seen to be the main extrinsic reason for students choosing
nursing as a career (Al Jarrah, 2013). The nursing profession offers a better oppor-
tunity for students to get employment directly for instance via community service,
which in South Africa is provided to the nursing graduate for integration to the nursing
profession (Nursing Act, 2005). In this climate, individuals from disadvantaged back-
grounds will always ensure that they are able to provide for both themselves and their
family (Knight, Corbett, Smith, Watkins, Hardy & Jones, 2012; Zamanzadeh et al.,
2015). Recruiting males to the profession may need to include messages promoting
available opportunities and continuous career development (Cook-Krieg, 2011).
5.2.4. The influence of prior exposure
It’s important to note prior exposure to nursing, either in the form of knowing a nurse,
looking after a person who is ill or prior work experience in health may have a signifi-
cant influence on career choice of female respondents. A study conducted in Israel on
first-year nursing students regarding previous exposure to nursing showed that prior
exposure influenced career choice and the study programme (Haron, Reicher & Riba,
2014). However, this was rated lower than other factors influencing the respondents’
choice of nursing as career.
In the current study, more than three quarters of respondents knew a person who was
working in nursing with this person most often being an aunt. This is consistent with
the finding of Natan et al. (2010), who reported that having a relative in nursing may
positively influence a nursing career choice through encouragement and having infor-
mation to make informed decision. Ten Hoeve et al. (2017) showed that role models
in the nursing students’ immediate environment influenced them to choose nursing as
69
a career. Similarly, Kabanya et al. (2016) and Tan-Kuick (2012) revealed that relatives
may be role models for students who may want to follow their footsteps.
However, in the current study, parents were not supportive in their children’s career
decision, with fathers being the least supportive. This is congruent with the studies
conducted by Pham (2011) and Buerhaus et al. (2005) who reported that there were
mixed feelings among parents, specifically, most fathers were opposed to their sons’
decision to choose nursing as career. This finding is consistent with other studies
(Price, 2011; Meiring, 2011); both which reported that parents were generally not sup-
portive of their children’s decision to come to nursing.
Looking after a relative or exposure to a nurse role model when one is sick also influ-
ences the decision to join or choose a nursing career. Similarly, Wu et al. (2015) re-
ported that exposure to the healthcare system while one is sick strongly influences a
nursing career choice. Work experience in hospital prior to a nursing program enrol-
ment was significantly associated with the decision to choose nursing as a career
(Kukkonen et al., 2016; ten Hoeve, et al.; 2016; Eick et al., 2012; Dunnion et al., 2010).
5.2.5. The poor image of nursing.
Though nearly half of the respondents agreed that they chose nursing because of its
good reputation (64.7%), this was not ranked as an important reason for respondents
choosing nursing as career (37.8%) and none of the respondents ranked Nursing has
good reputation or that nursing is a prestigious profession” as the most important main
reason of choosing nursing as career. Similar findings were reported in other studies
in South Africa on the reputation of nursing and its image. Respondents did not regard
nursing as prestigious (Van Wyk et al., 2013, Van Zyl, 2011). The nursing profession
appears to have a low status and low prestige, and this was reported to negatively
70
affect the respondents’ career choice in nursing significantly (Wu et al., 2015). The
image of nursing has been a problem for recruitment for a significant period and it is
up to the nurses themselves to display a positive attitude and act to attract potential
candidates to the nursing profession (Chauke, 2014; Van Wyk et al, 2013).
5.2.6. Low influence of flexibility of working in nursing
It was expected that flexible working shifts, that is, the self-schedule was thought to
bring positive outcome and benefits to the nurses and patients (Russell, Howkins, Ar-
nold, 2012). Previous research conducted by Halperin (2005) showed that flexible
work shifts helped the employee to manage their stressful work conditions, resulting
in fewer stress symptoms reported. Internationally, work flexibility in nursing has been
associated with attracting the best recruits, job satisfaction, commitment and retention
(Twigg & Duffield, 2009; Pillay, 2009). However, in this study flexible shifts were
ranked lower than other reasons by the respondents and appeared not to be an im-
portant factor influencing the respondents’ choice of nursing as a career. A similar
finding was reported by Lim et al. (2016) where flexible working hours were ranked
lower under reasons for choosing a nursing career. Thus, this study’s findings that
shift flexibility had no influence on nursing students’ career choice reflect the study of
Pillay (2009) who showed that in South Africa nurses work long shifts but get lower
pay and are less appreciated by the public.
5.3. CONCLUSION
The factors which influence nursing students to choose the nursing career were that
students were mostly influenced by altruistic reasons, to help others. Most female re-
spondents chose nursing because it was their passion though the majority of male
students chose nursing because they regard it as a stable job with many opportunities.
71
The study also highlights the importance of prior exposure to nursing as a recruitment
factor.
72
CHAPTER SIX
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1. Introduction
This study investigated the factors and reasons influencing choosing nursing as a ca-
reer at a university in the Western Cape. This chapter highlights the key findings of the
study, suggests recommendations for recruitment and further research and discusses
the limitations of the study.
6.2. Key findings and implications
1. The first key finding from the study was that the main reasons for nursing students
choosing nursing as career were influenced by core intrinsic factors, namely having
a passion for nursing, helping others and wanting to make a difference in society.
These are encouraging findings as these values are in line with nursing core values
and leave us with a hope for a positive future in the nursing profession.
2. The second key finding was that there were differences in the reasons for choosing
nursing as career between male and female respondents. The main reasons for a
nursing career choice for female respondents matched the career choice of the
majority of respondents giving altruistic reasons including helping others, a passion
for nursing and wanting to make difference in society. However, though altruism
was also important in male respondents, they rated financial reasons, a stable job
and opportunities available in nursing as the main reasons for choosing nursing as
a career.
73
3. The third key finding is the influence of positive prior exposure to nursing, either
from the students’ own experience or through knowing someone in the health sys-
tem. Having prior employment in the healthcare system (female respondents),
knowing someone in the healthcare system such as a relative or friend and having
looked after a relative or a friend who was sick were found to be the factors which
had an influence on the nursing career choice of the respondents. However, it was
noted that the parents did not influence the respondents’ decision to choose nurs-
ing as career.
4. The last key finding was that the image of nursing and reputation was not an im-
portant reason to the respondents in choosing nursing as a career.
6.3. Recommendations
6.3.1. Recommendations for the nursing school
1. The strategies for recruitment and advertising for nurses should focus on the pos-
itive values and attractive elements of nursing and represent nursing as a helping
profession for those with a passion for making a difference in the lives of people.
2. The nursing school should identify ways in which to offer positive prior exposure to
nursing for high school students or people interested in a nursing career. These
could include events such as Nurses’ Days, organizing visits to the nursing school
and exposing outsiders to the skills lab, giving regular talks about a nursing career
in the community and on media programmes. Such efforts would let potential re-
cruits know what nursing is all about and the opportunities available in a nursing
career. In addition, giving them a glimpse of the hospital environment is very im-
portant, such as providing opportunities to high school students for exposure to the
74
clinical setting, using a shadowing system. This would arouse the interest and
might well lead to the recruits choosing nursing as their career.
3. The nursing school should improve the promotion and marketing of nursing as a
career of choice for both young and older females and males. Activities should be
planned to reduce misconceptions about the nursing profession.
4. It should specifically design recruitment strategies for male students highlighting
the many opportunities in nursing.
5. The nursing school should recognize the importance of role models in students’
choice of a career in nursing. They should thus liaise with other stakeholders who
are involved in nursing training such as hospitals and other institutions for con-
sistency in education of the nurses as well as keeping students more motivated in
their chosen career. In addition, they should organize regular communication and
interactions with nursing professionals on professionalism for good production of
quality nurses.
6.3.2. Recommendation for nursing education
Based on this study, it is recommended that:
1. Nursing school educators, clinical supervisors and nurses in hospital should be
encouraged to be role models in clinical settings and in their daily lives. This would
promote nursing as a career of choice and improve the status and prestige of the
nursing profession.
2. There should be constant communication and good cooperation between nursing
schools and other nursing institutions and hospitals in order to ensure excellent
training and to keep nursing students motivated in their chosen career.
75
6.3.3. Recommendations for research
1. The study was a quantitative survey and further studies should include qualitative
focus groups or interviews which will provide more depth of understanding as to
why students choose nursing as a career.
2. Further research should be conducted on the portrayal of the nursing profession in
South Africa media and television as this could be beneficial in the reduction of
misconceptions that exist about nursing.
3. Further research should be conducted on the image of nurses and how the status
of nursing status might be improved through nurse role models.
4. A follow-up research study of nursing students is recommended to find out if there
is any change in their reasons and factors that influence their choice of nursing as
a career as their studies progress.
5. A more detailed in-depth study should be conducted which would include model
and framework development to provide a structure around the factors which influ-
ence recruitment and valuable feedback for the planning of nursing recruitment.
6.4. Limitations
The study has several limitations.
1. The data was collected in the second semester, the 20th September to the10th Oc-
tober. At this time the students were already exposed to the clinical setting and this
exposure could have influenced their responses.
2. The study was conducted in one nursing school and this could reduce generalisa-
tion of the findings.
3. The use of a conceptual framework would have been beneficial to the study.
76
6.5. Conclusion
The current study investigated the main reasons and factors influencing first-year nurs-
ing students’ career choice at a school of nursing at a university in the Western Cape,
South Africa. The study’s findings revealed that the nursing students were attracted to
nursing mainly because of their internal desires, namely, having a passion for nursing,
helping others and making a difference to society. Nursing institutions and the health
departments need to work together in order to put in place the strategies to recruit,
prepare and retain nurses by providing a good quality healthcare setting as the nurses
are the backbone of healthcare system
77
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LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix A: Ethical Clearance Certificate from University
100
Appendix B: Letter to registrar requesting permission to conduct a research
101
Appendix C: Approval Certificate to conduct a research
102
Appendix D: Letter to the School of nursing requesting permission
103
Appendix E: Approval letter from the head of nursing department
104
Appendix F: Information sheet
105
106
Appendix G: Consent form
107
Appendix H: Sample Questionnaire
108
109
Appendix I: Letter from the editor
110
Appendix J: Turnitin Report
111

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FACTORS INFLUENCING FIRST YEAR NURSING STUDENTS’ CAREER

CHOICE AT A UNIVERSITY IN THE WESTERN CAPE

NIBAGWIRE JEANNE D’ARC

STUDENT NUMBER: 3200087

A MINITHESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIRE-

SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR JENNIFER CHIPPS

CO -SUPERVISOR: DR ARONA DISON

vary and require investigation to improve recruitment practices.

reasons for choosing nursing as a career.

a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised 42 items and was de-

applied to determine the association between socio-demographic characteristics and

Therefore, it is recommended that the institution supports motivation and promotion of

factors, nursing education, recruitment, attrition in nursing, image of nursing.

AACN: American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

ECP: Extended Curriculum Program

HEI: Higher Education Institution

HEC: Higher Education Council

DoH: Department of Health

NSC: National Senior Certificate

SANC: South African Nursing Council

SA: South Africa

SPSS: Statistical Package for Social Science.

US: United States of America

WHO: World Health Organization

Jeanne d’Arc Nibagwire Signed …………...……………

This 25th Day of September 2019

honour and glory be yours forever and ever.

the course of study.

 Special thanks to:

the steps of my life.

 To all my friends and my God children, being on my side over time.

 To my classmates and all academics at UWC for your Knowledge sharing.

 To my respondents, 1st year nursing students (mainstream and extended pro-

gram) for participating voluntary in my study, God bless you.

 To my editor Dr Morgan for her hard work and support.

List of acronyms and abbreviations ............................................................................iv

Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... vii

CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................... 1

ORIENTATION TO THE STUDY................................................................................ 1

1.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1

1.2. Background of the study .................................................................................. 4

1.3. Problem statement ......................................................................................... 10

1.4. Aim of the study ............................................................................................. 11

1.5. Objectives of the study ................................................................................... 11

1.6. Significance of the study ................................................................................ 11

1.7. Definition of terms .......................................................................................... 12

1.8. Chapter outline ............................................................................................... 12

1.9. Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 13

CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................... 14

LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................ 14

2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 14

2.2. The healthcare system in South Africa .......................................................... 14

2.3. Nursing education in South Africa .................................................................. 15

2.4. Nursing care and a shortage of nurses .......................................................... 17

2.5. Reasons for attrition of students in nursing education ................................... 21

2.6. Factors influencing students’ choice of a nursing career................................ 24

2.6.1. Prior exposure to nursing ......................................................................... 24

2.6.3. Image of nursing ...................................................................................... 31