Introduction:

Several studies show that certain thematic-clinical areas arouse greater interest among nursing students than others, which has repercussions on the job preferences of recent graduates. This produces inequalities in healthcare organisations, making it impossible to cover certain services.

Aim:

To identify the job preferences of nursing students at La Laguna University according to clinical subject areas once they have completed their degree studies.

Method:

Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study with an analytical component. The study population consisted of 3rd and 4th year nursing students at La Laguna University. Different sociodemographic variables were collected, as well as questions about the students' job preferences. A descriptive analysis and an inferential analysis (Pearson's X2 test or Fisher's statistic for qualitative variables and the Student's t-test for the comparison of means for quantitative variables) were carried out using the IBM SPSS v19 statistical programme in order to explore the association between the different variables.

Results:

The total sample was 153 students (n=153). The response rate was 53.50%. The most preferred areas were Emergency and Urgent Nursing (Mean=3.04±1.05) and General Nursing (Mean=2.54±0.96), while the least favoured areas were "Other Areas (teaching-management-research)" (Mean=1.10±1.22) and Operating Room and Anaesthesia (Mean=1.58±1.23).

Conclusions:

Nursing students showed a greater willingness to work in some areas than others. It is necessary to generate new strategies in order to improve the attraction of nursing students to particular clinical areas.

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