TY - JOUR
T1 - The financial challenges for Australian nursing students attending placement-based work-integrated learning.
AU - Usher, Kim
AU - Fagan, Anthea
AU - Brown, Janie A.
AU - Mather, Carey
AU - Marlow, Annette
AU - Power, Tamara
AU - van de Mortel, Thea
AU - West, Caryn
AU - Hutchinson, Marie
AU - Zhao, Lin
AU - Terry, Victoria
AU - Woods, Cindy
AU - Lea, Jackie
N1 - Funding Information:
The most common form of financial support during WIL was Centrelink (Australian Federal Government) payments (20.5%), a scholarship (4.3%), or an allowance (3.7%). Sixty-one percent of students received no financial support, 15.4% (n = 321) had applied for funding, and 52.9% (n = 1101) were not aware scholarships existed. Of the 236 students who received a scholarship or allowance, 22% (n = 52) received funding before placement, 8% (n = 19) during WIL, 32% (n = 76) a month after placement, and 38% (n = 89) after semester/trimester finished. Of the 138 students who had received university funding to attend placement, 34% (n = 47) received it before attending placement, 9% (n = 13) during placement, 39% (n = 54) within one month, and 17% (n = 24) after the semester/trimester finished. Financial support for WIL most often came from family, personal savings, working, and student loans.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Australian College of Nursing Ltd
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - Background: Mandatory placement-based work-integrated learning (WIL) poses challenges for nursing students who work whilst studying. The financial burden of WIL links to other known direct and indirect challenges, yet no Australian study has quantified the financial challenges resulting from attending mandatory WIL placements. Placement-based WIL costs may preclude some students from completing WIL, which may impact student attrition and the future health workforce. Aim: To investigate Australian nursing students’ financial challenges related to mandatory WIL. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey conducted with nursing students from nine Australian universities across five Australian states. The 28-question survey investigated the location of, and travels to, the most recent WIL placement; and students’ employment, accommodation, financial support, expenses and debts, and financial strain pertaining to WIL placements. Results: Overall, 2,359 students participated. The majority were employed (84%); 65% of these reported that they were unable to work during WIL, affecting their employment. One-third incurred a financial liability from their placement, 79% reported financial hardship, and 73% found their placement stressful due to financial strain. Financial issues affected 62% of students’ health and wellbeing. Discussion: Financial pressures related to WIL impact nursing students. While students have strategies to reduce these pressures, universities can also better manage their placement preferencing and support of students to reduce financial impacts of placement-based WIL on students. Conclusions: Nursing students face substantial financial challenges related to placement-based WIL. Scholarship programs and other forms of support are required to assist nursing students to undertake WIL.
AB - Background: Mandatory placement-based work-integrated learning (WIL) poses challenges for nursing students who work whilst studying. The financial burden of WIL links to other known direct and indirect challenges, yet no Australian study has quantified the financial challenges resulting from attending mandatory WIL placements. Placement-based WIL costs may preclude some students from completing WIL, which may impact student attrition and the future health workforce. Aim: To investigate Australian nursing students’ financial challenges related to mandatory WIL. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey conducted with nursing students from nine Australian universities across five Australian states. The 28-question survey investigated the location of, and travels to, the most recent WIL placement; and students’ employment, accommodation, financial support, expenses and debts, and financial strain pertaining to WIL placements. Results: Overall, 2,359 students participated. The majority were employed (84%); 65% of these reported that they were unable to work during WIL, affecting their employment. One-third incurred a financial liability from their placement, 79% reported financial hardship, and 73% found their placement stressful due to financial strain. Financial issues affected 62% of students’ health and wellbeing. Discussion: Financial pressures related to WIL impact nursing students. While students have strategies to reduce these pressures, universities can also better manage their placement preferencing and support of students to reduce financial impacts of placement-based WIL on students. Conclusions: Nursing students face substantial financial challenges related to placement-based WIL. Scholarship programs and other forms of support are required to assist nursing students to undertake WIL.
KW - Education
KW - Financial support
KW - Nursing
KW - Placement
KW - Students
KW - Work-integrated learning (WIL)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85112526219&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.colegn.2021.07.005
DO - 10.1016/j.colegn.2021.07.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85112526219
SN - 1322-7696
VL - 29
SP - 154
EP - 160
JO - Collegian
JF - Collegian
IS - 2
ER -