Investigating current status and influencing factors of career intentions among Chinese nursing undergraduates: a cross-sectional study

This study highlights that more than half of the surveyed nursing undergraduates intend to pursue graduate education. The key influencing factors include grade level, student leadership experience, social practice/volunteer experience, family income level, and career preferences, alongside three core competencies: caring, self-directed learning, and critical thinking. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted educational and career support that aligns with the aspirations of nursing undergraduates. Such support is conducive to improving the quality of nursing education and promoting the professional development of the nursing profession.