Practicum Profile

Changes in Student Nurses’ Profile

In the past, most nursing students were single females in late adolescence.

• Developmental tasks included
  • Career and marriage decisions
  • Separation from parents
  • Establishing an independent lifestyle
  • Achieving financial independence

• Motivators included:
  • Desire for approval
  • Building self-esteem
  • Achieving success

• Rarely realized demands culture of nursing would make on their lives

More recently, the majority of nursing students are older adult learners of both sexes with midlife developmental issues:

• Developmental tasks may include:
  • Establishing career after raising children
  • Second career pursuits

• Motivation is derived from:
  • Often choose nursing for intrinsic rewards as well as seeking financial stability in a career perceived as "always in demand."
  • Often recognize upward mobility potential and may be considering advanced practice or administration from onset of education.

• Life experiences may make it harder to accept a student role. Need to feel "credited" for prior experience/knowledge

• May have many recent life changes including marriage/divorce, birth of children, death or disability of parents, are confronting own mortality, recognizing own physical changes
• Frequently are juggling many responsibilities, making student role not always first priority-children, day care, elderly parents, full or part time employment