Life After Nursing School: A Qualitative Study Examining the Traditional B.S.N. Student’s Experience of Choosing an Initial Area of Practice

Murphy, Charlsie Nicole (2014) Life After Nursing School: A Qualitative Study Examining the Traditional B.S.N. Student’s Experience of Choosing an Initial Area of Practice. Undergraduate thesis, under the direction of Dr. Robin Wilkerson from Nursing, The University of Mississippi Medical Center.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the traditional BSN student’s experience in choosing an initial area of practice and influences on this choice. Understanding of this experience is important for educators and healthcare agencies so they may utilize this information to improve the initial area of practice experience. This qualitative phenomenological study was based on van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Data were collected through participant interviews that were analyzed for themes related to participant experiences of choosing an initial area of practice. The data were simultaneously transcribed and analyzed to extract themes for each participant. Analysis identified three essential themes, eight variations, and two influences. The three themes were: 1) strong preference of initial area of practice in last semester of nursing school, 2) all participants chose an initial area of practice in area of previous clinical exposure, and 3) increased exposure to populations informed the initial area of practice decision. Influences on the experience of choosing an initial area of practice included other nurses and the desire for a broad foundation for future nursing practice.

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