Improving success and retention of undergraduate nursing students from rural and remote Australia: A multimethod study protocol

Aim: The aim of the proposed research is to develop, pilot and evaluate a novel, bespoke intervention with in-built consideration of the factors influencing attrition and barriers to retention for rural and remote undergraduate nursing students.

Background: There are high rates of attrition in nursing students with rural and remote backgrounds in Australia. However, there is a lack of understanding of what enables or impedes these students to progress in their studies and the strategies available to support them to become part of the nursing workforce. Addressing these gaps is critical to informing the efforts of those involved in nursing education, training and workforce planning. Design: A multi-methods study. 

Method: A project involving a multi-methods approach will be undertaken at an Australian higher education institution. In the first exploratory study, interviews and student cohort data will be used to understand attrition and retention, influencing factors and barriers to retention among rural and remote undergraduate nursing students. Findings from this study will be used to guide the development and implementation of a novel tailored student support service targeted to increase retention for this cohort. In the final evaluation study, the attrition and retention outcomes of participating students will be examined via interviews, surveys and existing cohort retention data. 

Expected results: The study will provide insights into the factors that can shape the retention experiences of rural and remote undergraduate nursing students and generate much needed evidence concerning what Higher Education Institutions can do to support the retention for this specific student cohort.