Which nursing students are more ready for interprofessional learning? A cross-sectional study

Background It has been argued that the significance of personality in relation to students' readiness for interprofessional collaboration is an area where more research is needed. Nursing students in particular seem to be unsure about their role in the interprofessional team. Objective To explore associations between nursing students' readiness for interprofessional learning and personality traits with regard to biological sex, and previous work experience from health care. Design A cross-sectional questionnaire study. Setting Nursing students in year one and three enrolled in a three-year undergraduate bachelor in nursing programme. Participants Nursing students (n = 284) in semester two and six. Methods The participants completed the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale and the Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Openness to experience Five Factor Inventory-3. The data were statistically analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-tests, correlations and linear regressions. Results Four of the five investigated personality traits – Extraversion, Openness to experiences, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness - were associated with nursing students' readiness for interprofessional learning. Moreover, nursing students in semester six were more ready for interprofessional learning regarding Negative professional identity and Roles and responsibilities than students in semester two. Female students were more ready for Teamwork and collaboration than male students. Conclusions Nursing students being more outgoing, open-minded, agreeable or conscientious seem to be more ready for interprofessional learning. Consequently, personality is of significance for nursing students' readiness for interprofessional learning.