Implementation of soil moisture sensor based automated irrigation in woody ornamental production

Introduction: Despite the extramuralisation of healthcare, most nursing students orientate on a career in the hospital, which leads to increasing labour market shortages in community nursing. Providing students with a more community-orientated curriculum may help build more positive perceptions that lead to other career choices.
Methods: The curriculum-redesign is based on research about first-year students’ perceptions and placement preferences. First, a cross-sectional multicentre survey study (n = 1058) was conducted using the SCOPE-scale (Scale on COmmunity care PErceptions). Second, a focus group study with students (n = 16) was performed to better understand which factors determine students' perceptions.
Results: The findings of the survey confirm the hospital’s popularity, as 71.2% prefer the hospital and only 5.4% choose community care, which is perceived as a ‘low-status-field’ with little care complexity and few challenges. The focus group study led to formulation of eight themes, namely (1) variety and diversity, (2) challenges, (3) improving people's health, (4) collaboration, (5) role models, (6) patient- or environment-based perceptions, (7) self-efficacy, and (8) immediate vicinity. Students’ perceptions of community care are at odds with what they consider important for their career.
Discussion: Students have clear ideas about what they think is attractive but their perceptions are not always realistic. They expect the hospital to possess all desired characteristics while community nursing is perceived as primarily elderly care and 'guidance in daily life'. Many students attribute complex caregiving only to acute care involving technical skills.
Curriculum designers can more prominently highlight the complexity of community nursing in the theory and present 'home-based' patient cases. Mentors in the field with an appropriate level of education are crucial, as they act as a source of inspiration. These interventions may increase awareness of the field's opportunities and help students to make well-informed career decisions.