Experiences of Nursing and Allied Health Students Undertaking a Rural Placement – Barriers and Enablers to Satisfaction and Wellbeing

Abstract

Australia's rural health services face chronic workforce shortages. To help address these shortages, the Australian Government funds a range of programs to support university students to undertake placements in rural areas with the aims of improving understanding of rural practice and encouraging rural careers. This study investigated the lived experiences of nursing and allied health students on placement in rural and regional Victoria. Its purpose was to identify the enablers and barriers most strongly affecting placement satisfaction and personal wellbeing. The intended outcome was to identify modifiable factors to improve the rural placement experience. Eighteen semi-structured interview..