Understanding nursing students' perceptions of the general practice environment and their priorities for employment settings

Abstract

Abstract Aim To explore final year nursing students' perceptions of the general practice environment and their priorities when choosing a workplace. Design Online survey, reported following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Methods The validated Profession Scale from the Scale on Community Care Perceptions (SCOPE) tool was used to identify characteristics within the general practice environment and the importance of these in choosing a workplace. To explore the factor structure, exploratory factor analysis was undertaken which was used to revise the survey language and flow before widespread dissemination. Results Three hundred and fifty‐five responses were received. Factor analysis revealed three factors: Provision of care, Employment conditions and Nature of work. Respondents exposed to general practice in the Bachelor of Nursing program or who had a general practice clinical placement had significantly different perceptions across all factors. Although wages, advancement opportunities, work pressures and the physical nature of work were perceived as important in choosing a workplace, they were seen as only moderately present in general practice.

Keywords

• attitudes
• employment setting
• genera practice
• nursing education
• perceptions
• primary care