The Job Placement and Employment Pathways of the Nursing Graduates of College of Nursing Riyadh for the Academic Year 2005 – 2011

Abstract

Objective: This study has explored the employment pathways of the nursing graduates of ×× University - College of Nursing-Riyadh relative to their job placement and employment behavior from September 2005-2011. Method: A qualitative research design using exploratory descriptive interpretive approach for the purpose of extensiveness, understanding and in-depth explanation. College of Nursing, Riyadh, KSA All College of Nursing graduates was considered eligible for the study provided they had passed the minimum of two years after graduation until the time of data collection. 374 graduates were qualified for the study. A self-developed questionnaire was utilized with the following categories: Demographic, Academic, Job placement (employment, transfer, and  resignation), career promotion and post graduate studies. The data were collected from subjects utilizing different techniques, depending on their geographic locations, such as a face to face interview, phone interview and e-mail correspondence. Results: Out of 374 subjects, 367 were initially employed after earning a BSN degree which leads to the general employment rate of approximately 98% among CON graduates.  91% of graduates retained their first two years employment, 89% retained till the end of their third year and 86.4% up to the end of their fifth employment year. 99% of the graduates were staff nurses during the first employment and only 1% belonging to education/research position. Moreover, 58.4% of the subjects chose the specialized areas such as: critical and cardiac unit, operating room and emergency nursing as career paths. Conclusion: The result of this study is reflecting an emerging image of a dedicated career- oriented female nurses and sustainable workforce of the country.  The study is a valuable contribution to quality improvement relative to preparation and building of a credible workforce along with peer academic institutions and concerned policy makers. Similar studies are extremely needed on national workforce performance in the country.