Understanding the risk factors for student attrition across pre-registration nursing and midwifery programmes in a United Kingdom university: A sequential explanatory mixed methods study

Nursing and Midwifery students reported challenges across their pre-registration programmes resulting in risk factors that might lead to students interrupting or withdrawing. Optimal cooperation between higher education institutions (HEI) and clinical stakeholders is of paramount importance to address these challenges as is government and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) acknowledgement and consideration of the identified risks linked to attrition; specifically relating to national funding arrangements and the clinical practice hours required for registration within the UK. This may also resonate with professional programmes internationally, faced with similar staffing shortages.