The mature student question

Summary aphic changes resulting in an increase of mature students on to pre-registration nursing programmes within our university has lead to the development of a welcoming programme for pre-registration mature nursing students. Three questionnaires were utilised in the development and evaluation of the welcoming programme. Each questionnaire had open ended questions which were thematically collated and summarised. The closed questions were computer analysed to derive simple descriptive statistics. in components of the welcoming programme were socialisation of the individual to university life and study skills. The study found that there was a small significant difference between the needs of mature students and of standard entry students in relation to information about the nursing course, study skills and time management. The students who participated in the welcoming programme progressed a little better on the nursing course. Students’ recommendations for further development of the programme included, additional study and IT skills and an introduction to subject areas on the nursing course. If we are to continue to recruit mature students on to our nursing courses we need to ensure that supports are in place to facilitate the mature student prior to and during their nursing course.