Students' motivation for rural and flexible nursing education and their career expectations
A mixed method study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7557/14.7455Keywords:
Baccalaureate Nursing Education, Rural, Flexible, Motivation, Career ExpectationAbstract
expectations.
Methods: A mixed-method design with questionnaire and focus group interviews with students. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, qualitative data by systematic text condensation.
Results: A profession that is beneficiary to society and where one could help others were central intrinsic motivational factors for starting studies. The possibility to remain living in one's own home region during education, as well as secure job prospects were central extrinsic motivational factors. Most of the students envisioned a future full-time professional career and further specialization. Three main themes describe the students' motivation and career expectations: 'Desire to make a difference', 'Experience of increased accessibility', 'Education provides opportunities and security”.
Conclusion: Flexible, decentralized nursing education programs appeals to students who otherwise would not have started their education.
References
Abrahamsen, B., & Fekjær, S. (2017). Dedikasjon og deltidsønsker blant politi og sykepleierstudenter. Tidskrift for samfunnsforskning, 58(4), 389-408. https://doi.org/10.18261/ISSN.1504-291X-2017-04-02
Abrahamsen, B., & Storvik, A. E. L. (2019). Nursing students’ career expectations: Gender differences and supply side explanations. Nursing Research and Practice, 3(1), 16-20. https://www.pulsus.com/scholarly-articles/nursing-students-career-expectations-gender-differences-and-supply-side-explanations.pdf
Aliyev, R., Ufuk, A., & Özbay, Y. (2021). Mediating Role of Internal Factors in Predicting Academic Resilience. International Journal of School & Educational Psychology, 9(3), 236–251. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683603.2021.1904068
Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall
Birks, M., Al-Motlag, & M.Mills, J. (2010). Pre-registration nursing degree students in rural Victoria: Characteristics and career aspirations. Collegian (Royal College of Nursing, Australia) 17(1), 23-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2009.07.001
Creswell, J., & Guettermann, T. (2021). Educational research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. Vol. 6. Pearson Education, Harlow, England.
Creswell, J.W, & Plano Clark, V.L. (2018). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE. ISBN : 9781506386621
Direktoratet for høyere utdanning og Kompetanse. Ordning for fleksibel og desentralisert utdanning. Utlysning vår 2023. Hentet 15.05.24 fra https://hkdir.no/utlysninger-og-tilskudd/ordning-for-fleksibel-og-desentralisert-utdanning-utlysning-var-2023
Fidjeland, A., & Hovdhaugen, E. (2022). Studenters motiver for valg av studiested. Arbeidsnotat 2022:5. Hentet 25.03.25 fra https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/4ce8f793961a4bc7b80103e6bb2f5a39/nifuarbeidsnotat2022-5.pdf
Fidjeland, A., Knutsen, T., & Stubhaug, M. (2023). Betydningen av bosted for utdanningsvalg. NIFU Innsikt;2023-6. Hentet 21.04.25 fra https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3093053 https://nifu.brage.unit.no/nifu-
Fosse, A., & Abelsen, B. (2023). Rekruttere og beholde sykepleiere i distriktskommuner,- En kunnskapsoppsummering Hentet 25.03.25 fra kunnskapsoppsummering-rekruttere-og-beholde-sykepleiere-i-distrikt.pdf
Helsedirektoratet. (2020). Fleksible utdanninger - et virkemiddel i rekruttering av helsepersonell? Hentet 10.05.24 fra Hdir_Rapportmal-gjeldende.him 19.06.19 .
Hov, J. (2019). Kan sjukepleiarmangelen i distrikta løysast med meir sentralisering? Khrono. Hentet 21.04.25 fra https://www.khrono.no/nord-sentralisering-sykepleie/kan-sjukepleiarmangelen-i-distrikta-loysast-med-meir-sentralisering/284937
Korseberg, L., Wiborg, V., Eide, T., Olsen, D., & Holtermann, H. (2022). Utdanning uavhengig av bosted og livssituasjon? Sluttrapport for evaluering av tilskuddsordninger for fleksible utdanningstilbud. (NIFU-rapport;2022:28) Nordisk institutt for studier av innovasjon, forskning og utdanning (NIFU). https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3038477
KPB. (2021). Konjungturbarometer for Nord-Norge 2021. Hentet 20.04.25 fra https://www.kbnn.no/files/kbnn_konjunkturbarometer_2021_oppdatert.pdf
Kunnskapsdepartementet. (2021). Desentralisert og fleksibel utdanning ved fagskoler, høyskoler og universiteter. https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/a8e31ac92f1244d0ac3644d4a1c08d03/desentralisert_og_fleksibel_utdanning_ved_fagskoler_hoyskoler_og_universiteter_210630_uu.pdf
Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., & Hackett, G. (2002). Social cognitive career theory. In D. Brown & Associates (Eds.) Career choice and development (4th ed) Jossey-Bass. ISBN 0-7879-5741-0.
Lindberg, M., Carlsson, M., Engström, M., Kristofferzon, M.-L., & Skytt, B. (2020). Nursing student's expectations for their future profession and motivating factors – A longitudinal descriptive study from Sweden. Nurse Education Today, 84, 104218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2019.104218
Macdiarmid, R., Turner, R., Winnington, R., McClunie-Trust, P., Donaldson, A., Shannon, K., Merrick, E., Jones, V., & Jarden, R. (2021). What motivates people to commence a graduate entry nursing programme: a mixed method scoping review. BMC Nursing, 20(1), 47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00564-9
Malterud, K. (2012). Systematic text condensation: A strategy for qualitative analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 40(8), 795-805. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494812465030
Malterud, K. (2017). Kvalitative forskningsmetoder for medisin og helsefag. Universitetsforlaget.
Maurud, S., Borosund, E., & Moen, A. (2022). Gender and ethnicity's influence on first-year nursing students' educational motivation and career expectations: A cross-sectional study. Nurs Open, 9(3), 1667-1678. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1191
Meld.St.14 (2019-2020) Kompetansereformen- Lære hele livet. Kunnskapsdepartementet. https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/afb66fbbcdfb47749f1b7007b559d145/no/pdfs/stm201920200014000dddpdfs.pdf
Meld. St. 16. (2020- 2021) Utdanning for omstilling. Økt arbeidslivsrelevans i høyere utdanning. Kunnskapsdepartementet. https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/meld.-st.-16-20202021/id2838171/?ch=1
Meld.St.14 (2022-2023) Utsyn over kompetansebehovene I Norge. Kunnskapsdepartementet. Kunskapsdepartementet. https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/meld.-st.-14-20222023/id2967608/
Meld. St. 19. (2023- 2024) Profesjonsnære utdanningar over heile landet. Kunnskapsdepartementet. Meld. St. 19 (2023–2024)
NAV. (2023). NAV bedriftsundersøking: Redusert mangel på arbeidskraft. NAV-rapport nr.5-2023. Hentet 01.04.25 fra https://www.nav.no/no/nav-og-samfunn/kunnskap/analyser-fra-nav/nav-rapportserie/navs-bedriftsundersokelse-2023-redusert-mangel-pa-arbeidskraft
NIFU. (2022). Evaluering av fagfornyelsen yrkesfag, delrapport 1: Bakgrunn, prosess og implementering på vg1. NIFU: Nordisk institutt for studier av innovasjon, forskning og utdanning. ISSN: 1892-2597
Norbye, B., & Skaalvik, M. W. (2013). Decentralized nursing education in Northern Norway: towards a sustainable recruitment and retention model in rural Arctic healthcare services. International journal of circumpolar health, 72(1). https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v72i0.22793
NOU 2023:4. (2023). Tid for handling — Personellet i en bærekraftig helse- og omsorgstjeneste. Hentet 21.04.25 fra https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/337fef958f2148bebd326f0749a1213d/no/pdfs/nou202320230004000dddpdfs.pdf
Oosterbroek, T. A., Yonge, O. J., & Myrick, F. (2019). Everybody knows your name”: Belonging in Rural Preceptorship. Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 19(1), 19(1), 64-88. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v19i1.548
OsloMet. StudData. hentet 11.04.25 fra https://www.oslomet.no/om/sps/forskning/studdata
Reppen, N. (2023). Søkertallet til sykepleiestudiet fortsetter å gå kraftig ned. Sykepleien. Hentet 11.04.2025 fra https://sykepleien.no/2023/07/sokertallet-til-sykepleiestudiet-fortsetter-ga-kraftig-ned
Russell, D., Mathew, S., & Fitts, M. (2021). Interventions for health workforce retention in rural and remote areas: a systematic review. Human Resources for Health, 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-021-00643-7
Røykenes, K., & Drageseth, S. (2024). Muligheter og utfordringer ved anvendelse av Mixed Methods Design. Nordisk tidsskrift for helseforskning. https://doi.org/10.7557/14.6743
Ryan, R., & Deci, E. (2017). Self-Determination Theory. Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness. Guilford Press.
Wilkes, L., Cowin, L., & Johnson, M. (2014). The reasons students choose to undertake a nursing degree. Collegian, 22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2014.01.003
Wu, L. T., Low, M. M. J., TAN, K., Lopez, V., & Liaw, S. Y. (2015). Why not nursing? A systematic review of factors influencing career choice among healthcare students. International Nursing Review, 62(4), 547-562. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12220
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Anita Lyssand, Silje Stangeland Lie, Kari Røykenes

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.