Towards nursing leadership for professional and career outcomes of Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) students: A case study

Abstract Background Within Australia and internationally, there is increasing and widespread recognition of the importance of developing nurses’ capabilities in research and evidence-based practice to advance the discipline. Literature is sparse on the contribution of nursing Honours degrees to academic, professional, and industry outcomes in nursing. Aims and objectives To critically evaluate the contribution of a Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) degree to individual career development and nursing leadership, the profession, higher education, and the health industry to inform future directions. Methods This case study of a longstanding Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) degree uses data collected from multiple sources. The data included university and public records, as well as an anonymous online survey in 2018-19 of all students who had enrolled in the programme since 2004. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Cross-Sectional Studies checklist was followed. Findings Of the 95 Honours programme graduates, 22.1% (n = 21) progressed to PhD studies, and 33.7% (n = 32) produced one or more publications. Of the 42 participants who accessed the survey, 78.6% (n = 33) had completed the nursing Honours programme, and 21.4% (n = 9) had commenced but did not complete the degree. Insufficient time was the main reason for not completing the nursing Honours degree, and qualitative responses indicated the nursing Honours degree developed student confidence and skills relevant to research and professional practice. Discussion Findings highlight opportunities for nursing Honours degrees to contribute to individual achievement, best practices in healthcare, development of future leaders in nursing, and discipline-specific research outcomes. Conclusion Nursing Honours degrees can offer important benefits to the individual, as well as the profession and the healthcare industry.