*3.2.1 Lack of a clear study goal for the bachelor of nursing and midwifery*

We investigated learner nurses' perspectives, regarding a reason for studying bachelor of nursing and midwifery, which is not part of the accreditation criteria. Surprisingly, only 8.5% of learner nurses said they were studying a bachelor of nursing science because it is their calling, with the remaining 91.5% of learner nurses, indicating that they chose the training program for career purposes and lack a better choice for studying at a higher educational institution.

**Figure 3** illustrates that most learner nurses chose to study bachelor of nursing science for a career purpose, which was expected considering the low employment rate among youth in South Africa. Based on these findings, we construe that the lack of a study goal that aligns with the nursing profession is an obstacle within the nursing training program. Raatikainen [16], in describing the nursing profession as a calling, noted that nurses who studied nursing, because it was a calling, were more devoted to their work, which translates to the provision of high-quality nursing care. Although many young people chose a study program because of employment opportunities [17], this study motive is perceived as an obstacle for the nursing profession that is described as a calling profession.

The results presented below are based on the selected Criterion for program review according to CHE. **Table 1** below illustrates these selected criteria for program review.



#### **Table 1.**

*Perceptions of learner nurses based on criteria.*
