The demographic data are presented

The demographic data are presented in Table 2. Not all students
answered all questions at each time point. Ninety (80%) had completed
some form of academic study prior to entry, of these 38
(33.9%) had completed ‘A’ Levels and 38 (33.9%) had completed
an access course. Just over a third of students were mature students
being older than 26 years at point of entry into the course.
The average age at point of entry was 24. Three years of age with
the youngest student being 18 and the oldest being 46 years of
age. At the final time point students were asked if their marital status
had changed since they had started their programme of study.
Marital status had changed for seven students, five had married
and two been divorced or separated. A quarter of the students
had children living at home with them whilst they were studying
throughout the period of training. Only a small number of males
(10%) undertook nurse training.