TITLE:
Investigation and Analysis of the Employment Intentions of Undergraduate Nursing Interns after Graduation
AUTHORS:
Yijuan Li, Chuntao Jin, Liwei Huang, Shuangqi Li, Meiyan Ou, Ting Meng, Yanzhen Lu
KEYWORDS:
Nursing Major Intern, Undergraduate Student, Employment Intention, Investigation and Analysis, Career Guidance
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.15 No.12,
December
29,
2025
ABSTRACT: Objective: This study aims to explore the post-graduation career intentions of undergraduate nursing students during their clinical internship, analyze the factors influencing these intentions, and provide evidence-based recommendations for enhancing nursing education and improving the quality of clinical teaching. Method: A cross-sectional survey design was employed. Using a convenience sampling approach, 60 undergraduate nursing interns who met the inclusion criteria were recruited between May 2025 and October 2025. Data were collected through a self-developed questionnaire titled “Questionnaire on Employment Intention of Undergraduate Nursing Interns After Graduation.” Descriptive statistics were used to summarize and analyze participants’ employment intentions and related influencing factors. Results: Among the research participants, 60% indicated their willingness to engage in clinical nursing after graduation, 20% stated they would not pursue such work, and 20% remained undecided. Among those willing to enter clinical nursing, the primary reasons cited were job stability (83.33%), ample professional development opportunities (55.56%), and favorable welfare benefits (38.9%). Conversely, the main factors discouraging engagement in clinical nursing included shift-based work schedules and irregular working hours (91.6%), complex nurse-patient relationships (83.3%), and high levels of occupational stress (66.7%). Furthermore, 50% of participants indicated that they would consider clinical nursing as a fallback option for financial sustainability in the absence of better alternatives, while the remaining 50% firmly rejected this possibility. The top reasons for initially selecting the nursing major were ease of employment (75%), use of nursing as an alternative following unsuccessful admission to clinical medicine programs (60%), and compliance with parental or familial expectations (25%). When asked, “If you could choose again, would you still opt for nursing?”, 80% respondents answered affirmatively, 16.7% responded negatively, and 3.3% expressed uncertainty. Conclusion: 1) Willingness among undergraduate nursing interns to enter clinical nursing practice after graduation remains suboptimal and requires targeted improvement. 2) Key motivators for pursuing clinical nursing include job security, career advancement prospects, competitive benefits, and the intrinsic challenge of the role. 3) Major barriers include shift-based scheduling, unpredictable work hours, demanding interpersonal dynamics, excessive workload, occupational stress, and inherent job risks. 4) The primary reason most students choose to major in nursing is the relative ease of securing employment upon graduation. 5) However, a small proportion of students report regret regarding their initial decision to pursue nursing as a field of study.