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Background <p>Workforce shortages pose a significant challenge to healthcare provision across Western countries, making the motivations and retention of future professionals a priority for research and policy.</p> Methods <p>This study investigates key factors influencing career decisions and training experiences among apprentices in generalist nursing and special needs care, based on 242 standardized surveys conducted in nine classes at a health and social care training center in rural Germany. The study specifically investigates what motivates apprentices’ career choices, the expectations they hold upon entering training, and how early experiences in vocational school and in-firm training influence their intention to remain in the profession.</p> Results <p>Our findings indicate that traditional media exposure has minimal influence on career choice, whereas proximity and geographic accessibility emerge as key criteria. Importantly, negative experiences in vocational school curricula and inadequacies in firm-based training are significantly associated with reduced commitment to stay in the profession.</p> Conclusions <p>Targeted interventions addressing curricular content, pedagogical support, and coordination between school and field training are crucial to reducing workforce attrition in regional healthcare.</p>

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Career choice, training satisfaction, and retention intentions among healthcare apprentices: a cross-sectional study in rural Germany

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月7日

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  • Andree Ehlert,
  • Dirk Oberschachtsiek

摘要

Background

Workforce shortages pose a significant challenge to healthcare provision across Western countries, making the motivations and retention of future professionals a priority for research and policy.

Methods

This study investigates key factors influencing career decisions and training experiences among apprentices in generalist nursing and special needs care, based on 242 standardized surveys conducted in nine classes at a health and social care training center in rural Germany. The study specifically investigates what motivates apprentices’ career choices, the expectations they hold upon entering training, and how early experiences in vocational school and in-firm training influence their intention to remain in the profession.

Results

Our findings indicate that traditional media exposure has minimal influence on career choice, whereas proximity and geographic accessibility emerge as key criteria. Importantly, negative experiences in vocational school curricula and inadequacies in firm-based training are significantly associated with reduced commitment to stay in the profession.

Conclusions

Targeted interventions addressing curricular content, pedagogical support, and coordination between school and field training are crucial to reducing workforce attrition in regional healthcare.