The Tasmanian nursing student population: A study of the demographic characteristics of hospital and higher education cohorts

This study reports the findings from a study of nursing students in hospital and higher education programs in the state of Tasmania. Analysis was performed on data supplied by students on a questionnaire. No significant difference was found on the gender composition of the two institutional groups. Recruits to higher education programs were more likely to delay entry after the completion of secondary school than were their hospital colleagues. There was no difference in the geographical location of the high school attended by students which suggests that country students will not be disadvantaged by the national transfer of nurse education into the mainstream of higher education.