A study of the factors affecting retention on UK based Pre-Registration Nursing Programmes.: A dissertation presented in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, towards the degree of Masters in Research (Applied Health Studies).

Jemma Lockwood

A study of the factors affecting retention on UK based Pre-Registration Nursing Programmes. A dissertation presented in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, towards the degree of Masters in Research (Applied Health Studies).

Jemma Lockwood

Research output: Thesis › Master's Thesis

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Abstract

The purpose of the research:
The aim of this research was to investigate if students, enrolled on an England based pre-registration nursing programme, were less likely to have considered leaving their programme prior to completion if they have higher levels of identity as a student nurse and professional commitment to achieving the qualification. Pre-registration nursing programmes at English Higher Education Institutions have reported attrition rates of 25% (HEE 2018). Attrition of students from pre-registration nursing programmes has been identified as a continuing global concern (Badiyepeymaiejahromi et al 2023).

Methodology:
This research took a quantitative methodological approach, with the sample frame consisting of pre-registration student nurses who are enrolled in Higher Education Institutions which are members of the Midlands, Yorkshire and East Practice Learning Group. The chosen method of data collection was an online questionnaire. The data were subjected to quantitative statistical analysis, using SPSS, in order to explore any significant associations between consideration of leaving the programme and a number of variables and the predictive ability of these variables.

Research Findings:
This research found that the only factor which was found to have a statistically significant influence on whether a student had ever considered leaving their programme was their placement experiences. Therefore, there may be other variables which are potentially more significant for retention than characteristics of the students such as self-identity, professional commitment or demographic characteristics. However, the association between consideration of leaving the programme and interacting or combined variables was not explored or determined in this research.  

Implications for future research:
Research is needed to investigate the interaction of different variables in combination with each other as the influences on a student are complex and multi-faceted. Research is also needed which operationalises the concepts of self-identity and professional commitment using validated assessment tools to ensure reliability and validity in the measurement of these concepts.

Conclusion:
The operationalisation of the concepts of self-identity and professional commitment in this research may have contributed to the failure to find an association between these concepts and whether a student nurse has ever considered leaving their programmes. Ongoing research in this area is vital to support both retention on pre-registration nursing programmes in the UK and the corresponding supply of registered nurses into the healthcare system in order to support the provision of safe and effective patient care.    

Original language	English
Qualification	MPhil
Awarding Institution	De Montfort University
Supervisors/Advisors	Ruane, Sally, Supervisor, External person
Award date	17 Jul 2025
Publisher	De Montfort University
Publication status	Unpublished - Jul 2025

Bibliographical note

Copyright © Jemma Lockwood, 2025. Jemma Lockwood asserts her moral right to be identified as the author of this dissertation. This copy of the dissertation has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with its author and that no quotation from the thesis and no information derived from it may be published without appropriate permission or acknowledgement. If you have discovered material in Aston Publications Explorer which is unlawful e.g. breaches copyright, (either yours or that of a third party) or any other law, including but not limited to those relating to patent, trademark, confidentiality, data protection, obscenity, defamation, libel, then please read our Takedown Policy and contact the service immediately.

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MRes_Dissertation_JLockwood
Copyright © Jemma Lockwood, 2026. Jemma Lockwood asserts her moral right to be identified as the author of this thesis. This copy of the thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with its author and that no quotation from the thesis and no information derived from it may be published without appropriate permission or acknowledgement. If you have discovered material in Aston Publications Explorer which is unlawful e.g. breaches copyright, (either yours or that of a third party) or any other law, including but not limited to those relating to patent, trademark, confidentiality, data protection, obscenity, defamation, libel, then please read our Takedown Policy and contact the service immediately.
Final published version, 1.02 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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@mastersthesis{9785593e1d50414a8093eaed7037d02b,

title = "A study of the factors affecting retention on UK based Pre-Registration Nursing Programmes.: A dissertation presented in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, towards the degree of Masters in Research (Applied Health Studies).",

abstract = "The purpose of the research: The aim of this research was to investigate if students, enrolled on an England based pre-registration nursing programme, were less likely to have considered leaving their programme prior to completion if they have higher levels of identity as a student nurse and professional commitment to achieving the qualification. Pre-registration nursing programmes at English Higher Education Institutions have reported attrition rates of 25\% (HEE 2018). Attrition of students from pre-registration nursing programmes has been identified as a continuing global concern (Badiyepeymaiejahromi et al 2023). Methodology: This research took a quantitative methodological approach, with the sample frame consisting of pre-registration student nurses who are enrolled in Higher Education Institutions which are members of the Midlands, Yorkshire and East Practice Learning Group. The chosen method of data collection was an online questionnaire. The data were subjected to quantitative statistical analysis, using SPSS, in order to explore any significant associations between consideration of leaving the programme and a number of variables and the predictive ability of these variables. Research Findings: This research found that the only factor which was found to have a statistically significant influence on whether a student had ever considered leaving their programme was their placement experiences. Therefore, there may be other variables which are potentially more significant for retention than characteristics of the students such as self-identity, professional commitment or demographic characteristics. However, the association between consideration of leaving the programme and interacting or combined variables was not explored or determined in this research.   Implications for future research: Research is needed to investigate the interaction of different variables in combination with each other as the influences on a student are complex and multi-faceted. Research is also needed which operationalises the concepts of self-identity and professional commitment using validated assessment tools to ensure reliability and validity in the measurement of these concepts. Conclusion: The operationalisation of the concepts of self-identity and professional commitment in this research may have contributed to the failure to find an association between these concepts and whether a student nurse has ever considered leaving their programmes. Ongoing research in this area is vital to support both retention on pre-registration nursing programmes in the UK and the corresponding supply of registered nurses into the healthcare system in order to support the provision of safe and effective patient care.    ",

author = "Jemma Lockwood",

note = "Copyright {\textcopyright} Jemma Lockwood, 2025. Jemma Lockwood asserts her moral right to be identified as the author of this dissertation. This copy of the dissertation has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with its author and that no quotation from the thesis and no information derived from it may be published without appropriate permission or acknowledgement. If you have discovered material in Aston Publications Explorer which is unlawful e.g. breaches copyright, (either yours or that of a third party) or any other law, including but not limited to those relating to patent, trademark, confidentiality, data protection, obscenity, defamation, libel, then please read our Takedown Policy and contact the service immediately.",

year = "2025",

month = jul,

language = "English",

publisher = "De Montfort University",

school = "De Montfort University",

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T2 - A dissertation presented in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, towards the degree of Masters in Research (Applied Health Studies).

AU - Lockwood, Jemma

N1 - Copyright © Jemma Lockwood, 2025. Jemma Lockwood asserts her moral right to be identified as the author of this dissertation. This copy of the dissertation has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with its author and that no quotation from the thesis and no information derived from it may be published without appropriate permission or acknowledgement. If you have discovered material in Aston Publications Explorer which is unlawful e.g. breaches copyright, (either yours or that of a third party) or any other law, including but not limited to those relating to patent, trademark, confidentiality, data protection, obscenity, defamation, libel, then please read our Takedown Policy and contact the service immediately.

PY - 2025/7

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N2 - The purpose of the research: The aim of this research was to investigate if students, enrolled on an England based pre-registration nursing programme, were less likely to have considered leaving their programme prior to completion if they have higher levels of identity as a student nurse and professional commitment to achieving the qualification. Pre-registration nursing programmes at English Higher Education Institutions have reported attrition rates of 25% (HEE 2018). Attrition of students from pre-registration nursing programmes has been identified as a continuing global concern (Badiyepeymaiejahromi et al 2023). Methodology: This research took a quantitative methodological approach, with the sample frame consisting of pre-registration student nurses who are enrolled in Higher Education Institutions which are members of the Midlands, Yorkshire and East Practice Learning Group. The chosen method of data collection was an online questionnaire. The data were subjected to quantitative statistical analysis, using SPSS, in order to explore any significant associations between consideration of leaving the programme and a number of variables and the predictive ability of these variables. Research Findings: This research found that the only factor which was found to have a statistically significant influence on whether a student had ever considered leaving their programme was their placement experiences. Therefore, there may be other variables which are potentially more significant for retention than characteristics of the students such as self-identity, professional commitment or demographic characteristics. However, the association between consideration of leaving the programme and interacting or combined variables was not explored or determined in this research.   Implications for future research: Research is needed to investigate the interaction of different variables in combination with each other as the influences on a student are complex and multi-faceted. Research is also needed which operationalises the concepts of self-identity and professional commitment using validated assessment tools to ensure reliability and validity in the measurement of these concepts. Conclusion: The operationalisation of the concepts of self-identity and professional commitment in this research may have contributed to the failure to find an association between these concepts and whether a student nurse has ever considered leaving their programmes. Ongoing research in this area is vital to support both retention on pre-registration nursing programmes in the UK and the corresponding supply of registered nurses into the healthcare system in order to support the provision of safe and effective patient care.    

AB - The purpose of the research: The aim of this research was to investigate if students, enrolled on an England based pre-registration nursing programme, were less likely to have considered leaving their programme prior to completion if they have higher levels of identity as a student nurse and professional commitment to achieving the qualification. Pre-registration nursing programmes at English Higher Education Institutions have reported attrition rates of 25% (HEE 2018). Attrition of students from pre-registration nursing programmes has been identified as a continuing global concern (Badiyepeymaiejahromi et al 2023). Methodology: This research took a quantitative methodological approach, with the sample frame consisting of pre-registration student nurses who are enrolled in Higher Education Institutions which are members of the Midlands, Yorkshire and East Practice Learning Group. The chosen method of data collection was an online questionnaire. The data were subjected to quantitative statistical analysis, using SPSS, in order to explore any significant associations between consideration of leaving the programme and a number of variables and the predictive ability of these variables. Research Findings: This research found that the only factor which was found to have a statistically significant influence on whether a student had ever considered leaving their programme was their placement experiences. Therefore, there may be other variables which are potentially more significant for retention than characteristics of the students such as self-identity, professional commitment or demographic characteristics. However, the association between consideration of leaving the programme and interacting or combined variables was not explored or determined in this research.   Implications for future research: Research is needed to investigate the interaction of different variables in combination with each other as the influences on a student are complex and multi-faceted. Research is also needed which operationalises the concepts of self-identity and professional commitment using validated assessment tools to ensure reliability and validity in the measurement of these concepts. Conclusion: The operationalisation of the concepts of self-identity and professional commitment in this research may have contributed to the failure to find an association between these concepts and whether a student nurse has ever considered leaving their programmes. Ongoing research in this area is vital to support both retention on pre-registration nursing programmes in the UK and the corresponding supply of registered nurses into the healthcare system in order to support the provision of safe and effective patient care.    

M3 - Master's Thesis

PB - De Montfort University

ER -