Impact of clinical placements on graduates' choice of first staff-nurse post

The demand for quality clinical placements for pre-registration healthcare students is set to rise as student numbers within medical and non-medical education are to increase at a time when there is a recruitment crisis within nursing. A study was conducted to identify what impact clinical placements have on pre-registration adult nursing students’ choice of clinical speciality as a newly qualified nurse (NQN). Data was collected from students on their final day of a BSc (Hons) programme at two campus sites at an east of England University. Participants regard the desirability of a clinical placement on the basis of the quality of the learning, working and clinical environment and nature of the speciality. The influence of clinical placements on the choice of first destination of NQNs more than doubles within the final year of study. Clinical placements generate vivid experiences which exert a strong influence on the first employment destination decisions of NQNs.