Second Degree Prelicensure Master's Graduates: What Attracts Them to Nursing, Their Views on the Profession, and Their Contributions

This qualitative study explored second degree prelicensure master's graduates' attraction to the nursing profession, views on nursing, and thoughts regarding their contribution to nursing. Fourteen individuals participated from a cohort of master's students enrolled in a second degree program with a Clinical Nurse Leader focus. Data were collected through researcher-participant interviews. The researchers categorized data according to interview questions using constant comparison. Within each category, central themes emerged. Findings revealed that participants were drawn to nursing because of the opportunities and the caring nature of nursing. Participants felt prepared and excited to start a second career despite having to overcome challenges. They believed that their previous education enhanced their communication abilities and broadened their views; however, they encountered difficulties integrating previously held perspectives into a nursing worldview. They found poor nurse-to-nurse relationships among some experienced nurses and the difficulty of nursing education surprising. The opportunity to help others and the people for whom they provided care were the two features the participants most liked about nursing. Understanding such insights is important to continue to attract individuals from other careers to nursing. Findings highlight the important contributions that these individuals bring to the profession.