TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of term-time paid work on academic performance in nursing students
T2 - A longitudinal study
AU - Salamonson, Yenna
AU - Everett, Bronwyn
AU - Koch, Jane
AU - Andrew, Sharon
AU - Davidson, Patricia M.
PY - 2012/5
Y1 - 2012/5
N2 - Background: Nursing students in higher education are spending more time in paid employment despite evidence that this can impact negatively on academic performance. Objectives: To examine the effect of paid work on academic performance in undergraduate nursing students. Design: Descriptive, correlational survey with longitudinal follow-up. Participants: Nursing students in metropolitan Sydney, Australia. Methods: First year nursing students surveyed at baseline were followed up at the end of the final year of their nursing program to examine factors influencing academic performance. Results: Of the 566 Year 1 nursing students who were surveyed in the second semester of their Bachelor of Nursing program, 182 students (32%) completed the follow-up survey in Year 3. The percentage of students engaging in paid work during term-time had increased (. p<. 0.001), from 70% in Year 1 to 84% in Year 3. There was an inverse relationship between mean hours in paid work during term-time and nursing students' GPA in their final year. Taking into account demographic factors, the mean hours spent in paid work during term-time had a negative impact on nursing students' GPA (. p<. 0.001). Conclusion: In view of these findings, we suggest that new models of undergraduate nursing education be explored to include faculty approved nursing-related employment with defined opportunities for learning. This would accommodate the dual roles of undergraduate nursing students as students and employees and therefore not endanger their academic performance.
AB - Background: Nursing students in higher education are spending more time in paid employment despite evidence that this can impact negatively on academic performance. Objectives: To examine the effect of paid work on academic performance in undergraduate nursing students. Design: Descriptive, correlational survey with longitudinal follow-up. Participants: Nursing students in metropolitan Sydney, Australia. Methods: First year nursing students surveyed at baseline were followed up at the end of the final year of their nursing program to examine factors influencing academic performance. Results: Of the 566 Year 1 nursing students who were surveyed in the second semester of their Bachelor of Nursing program, 182 students (32%) completed the follow-up survey in Year 3. The percentage of students engaging in paid work during term-time had increased (. p<. 0.001), from 70% in Year 1 to 84% in Year 3. There was an inverse relationship between mean hours in paid work during term-time and nursing students' GPA in their final year. Taking into account demographic factors, the mean hours spent in paid work during term-time had a negative impact on nursing students' GPA (. p<. 0.001). Conclusion: In view of these findings, we suggest that new models of undergraduate nursing education be explored to include faculty approved nursing-related employment with defined opportunities for learning. This would accommodate the dual roles of undergraduate nursing students as students and employees and therefore not endanger their academic performance.
KW - Academic performance
KW - Longitudinal study
KW - Nursing education
KW - Nursing students
KW - Paid work
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.10.012
DO - 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.10.012
M3 - Article
C2 - 22098926
AN - SCOPUS:84860252651
VL - 49
SP - 579
EP - 585
JO - International Journal of Nursing Studies
JF - International Journal of Nursing Studies
SN - 0020-7489
IS - 5
ER -