Motivations and expectations of generation Z nursing students: A post-pandemic career choice qualitative analysis.

BACKGROUND: The global nursing shortage is a growing concern so recruiting and retaining Generation Z (Gen Z) students is vital to the sustainability of the profession. PURPOSE: To explore the perceptions and expectations of first-year nursing students regarding the nursing profession, its working conditions, and how these factors influenced their career choices. METHOD: Descriptive qualitative research design, employing an interpretive research approach and content analysis conducted following Graneheim & Lundman's method. Our study involved 105 Generation Z nursing degree students enrolled in first year at the Mar Nursing School in Barcelona, Spain in 2021. Data collection included voluntary written narratives about their career choice and questionnaires of demographic information and their healthcare experiences. RESULTS: It became evident that Generation Z students' perceptions and expectations of nursing don't align with the actual professional experience. This mismatch could lead to disillusionment and attrition among these students. CONCLUSIONS: Several factors (economic, aspirational, perception of nursing during the COVID-19, or gender) influence new students' career choice. These factors shape their expectations and often do not match actual working conditions in nursing. Educational institutions must prepare students by transferring cross-cutting competencies to effectively meet these challenges and avoid potential dropout from the profession.

Moral Breakdowns and Ethical Dilemmas of Perioperative Nurses during COVID-19: COREQ-Compliant Study.

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the complexity of caregiving, resulting in challenging situations for perioperative nurses. These situations have prompted nurses to assess their personal and professional lives. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of perioperative nurses during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on analyzing moral breakdowns and ethical dilemmas triggered by this situation. (2) Methods: A qualitative design guided by a hermeneutical approach was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 perioperative nurses. The interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed following the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines. (3) Results: The findings revealed three main categories and ten subcategories. These categories included the context in which moral breakdowns emerged, the ethical dilemmas triggered by these breakdowns, and the consequences of facing these dilemmas. (4) Conclusions: During the first wave of COVID-19, perioperative nurses encountered moral and ethical challenges, referred to as moral breakdowns, in critical settings. These challenges presented significant obstacles and negatively impacted professional responsibility and well-being. Future studies should focus on identifying ethical dilemmas during critical periods and developing strategies to enhance collaboration among colleagues and provide comprehensive support.