RESEARCH METHODS
Sample & Recruitment
The sample included all students currently enrolled in the NESA BN and BNAD programs. Recruitment was conducted through posters and emails. The recruitment email was also followed up with a reminder email from September 20, 2024 - March 31, 2025.
Design
We used a descriptive, quantitative cross sectional study design.
Data Collection
We developed a specific collection tool for this study based on our literature review. Using an online survey built with the Qualtrics platform, data collection was organized into 4 sections.
Section 1
Basic Demographics
Collecting basic demogrpahic helped to describe our sample of participants.
Section 3
Influencing Factors
Participants were asked to rate 14 identified factors based on its impact on the decision to work as a rural nurse.
Section 2
5-Point Likert Scale
10 questions explored participants' agreement with interest, past experience, support and preparedness to work in a rural setting.
Section 4
Intent to Work
Using fixed alternative questions, we asked whether participants' previously had a clinical placement in a rural location, and their intent to work in the South Zone of Alberta.
Data Analysis
We analyzed the questionnaires using SPSS.
-
Demographics were summarized with descriptive statistics.
-
Independent t-tests compared students with and without rural clinical placements.
-
Risk and odds ratios were used to assess the link between participants who have had a rural placement with their agreement to the survey statements.
-
Likert responses were recoded into Yes (agree/strongly agree) and No (neutral, disagree, strongly disagree).
Finding 1
Intent to Work
There was a positive correlation between students' exposure to the rural setting and their intention to work in rural settings after graduation. Additionally, 41.0% of respondents shared that they came from a rural background prior to starting the NESA program and nearly half of all responses indicate their intention to work in a rural community within five years of graduation.
​
These align with exisitng research that people with rural backgrounds and students who have experienced a rural placement tend to have higher interests in pursuing rural nursing practice.
Finding 2
Important Factors
​Among 14 factors, patient safety, positive workplace culture, and professional collaboration between staff were the top 3 highest rated factors of importance when nursing students are considering rural practice.
Finding 3
Knowledge Gap
The study also highlights that there is a gap in students’ knowledge of existing incentives to stay and seek careers in the South Zone of Alberta.
