Table 1 Motivations concurring to the final decision to drop-out from the BSN (from the most to the least reported by students)

Understanding of not being suited to be a nurse

Feeling inadequate for the nursing profession

Having the desire to try another profession

Perception of lacking the psychological, physical, and practical resources needed to successfully cope with both nursing school and the nursing profession

Being unable to manage emotions

To struggle with academic demands

Organization skills

Commitment (self-awareness)

Not Effectively cope with stress

Concerns due to personal/family circumstances

To be suffering financial problems

To have health issues

To have language issues

Incongruity between one ideal or perfect idea of the nursing profession and the real impact with it during the clinical placement

To not find in the real world the human dimension of the job anticipated by the theory lessons

To experience teamwork without then finding it in every clinical context

To not associate caring competence to the nurse

To perceive lack of support from the clinical teacher

To wish for a closer relationship and more support from the clinical teacher

To wish for more interest from the clinical teacher’s point of view

Expect help from the clinical teacher

Find it hard to open up with people about your own issues

To not establish a trust relationship with your clinical teacher

To not be satisfied with the overall experience of placement

Wish to have some time dedicated to reflection

To wish for more mentoring/mentorship

To perceive as negative the simultaneous presence of multiple students in the same unit

To wish for more opportunities to experience the job while in placement

To have the opportunity to observe a good role models during training activities

To negatively handle the relationship with the team