Nursing personnel survey, Australia, 1978

This study was conceived to determine workforce characteristics, distribution, utilisation and level of supply of nursing personnel in Australia and to estimate future requirements. Separate data sets were collected from health institutions, professional nurses, mothercraft nurses and nursing aides, and nursing students. Variables collected from health institutions include: number and classification of persons on payroll; hours worked; number of vacancies; ability to fill vacancies and methods used to do so. Variables contained in the three nursing personnel data sets include: residential area; educational qualifications; current employment information either within or outside the nursing profession, or, in the case or student nurses, possible place of employment upon course completion; employment status over the last five years; reasons for leaving/returning to nursing; reason for choosing a particular training school; expectations of returning to nursing if not currently working in the field.