Postgraduate Pre-registration Nursing Market Testing

<p>The Government&rsquo;s commitment to delivering sustainable growth in the nursing workforce is vital to delivering the ambitions of the Long-term Plan. Encouraging graduates to undertake postgraduate study to achieve a Registered Nurse Degree is one way in which we may affect growth. The postgraduate route enables NMC registration within two years so therefore providing an accelerated and cost-effective route to achieve a Registered Nurse when compared to undergraduate study or an apprenticeship programme.</p>
<p>Postgraduate programmes are attractive to those who are looking to change career direction or those who are completing a degree programme but may want to step directly onto a nursing programme. They will have a proven academic ability, may be more resilient and independent and therefore, more likely to commit to and progress in the nursing profession.</p>
<p>Within the UK there is currently limited data regarding postgraduate entry into nursing. In Australia evidence suggests that graduate entry attracts more mature students with a higher proportion of males and international students (Everette, Salmonson, Trajkovikski, 2013) that a tradition nursing programme. Further evidence in Australia based on a cohort survey (McKeena, Brooks, Vanderheide, 2017) found that 38% of post graduate entrants came from a science background, 56% were aged between 21-30 years and nearly half 46.9% had only 0-5 years of work experience. Further research and market testing is needed to understand the demographics and motivations behind graduate entry.</p>
<p>The overall aim of the research is to provide qualitative insights that support the development of future marketing and engagement strategy to encourage applications to these courses.</p>