Article section

Article title
Contributor
Abstract
About article
DOI
Citation style
Copyright
Open access
References
Research Article

Unpacking The Pause: How Gap Years Shape Nursing Student Journeys

Authors

  • Caytap-Latowed Romana College of Advance Education, Ifugao State University, Lamut, Ifugao, Philippines
  • Bencila-Simon, Mary Rose School of Nursing, Allied Health and Biological Sciences, Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7929-8262

    mrbsimon318@gmail.com

Abstract

This research investigates the experiences of nursing students in Baguio City, Philippines who had a gap year (a year of taking a break in formal education) before pursuing the course or in the middle of the course with a focus on describing their lived experience. Using a descriptive phenomenological method, the study undertook in-depth, semi-structured interviews with purposively-selected participants in order to reveal key motivations, transformative experiences and perceived life-long consequences of this interruption to educational provision. The results indicate academic refreshment and preparation for the challenging conditions of nursing education. The learnings in skills, ability to adapt, and develop resiliency, simplicity in career aspirations were reported. But dealing with issues such as academic transition and financial obligations were also reported. The study also suggests that for the nursing students of Baguio City, taking a productive gap year can play a formative role in influencing the academic and career paths of the students as it can cause significant development in the students’ maturity, self-efficacy, and intentional view towards their career future as health professionals. Such understandings enhance our overall knowledge regarding the role of educational hiatuses in nursing, and help to highlight the necessary support from institutions in order to acknowledge the possible advantages and challenges of gap years.

Keywords:

Gap Year Nursing Education Personal Development Student Motivation

Article information

Journal

Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Science

Volume (Issue)

2(2), (2025)

Pages

168-180

Published

15-07-2025

How to Cite

Caytap-Latowed, R., & Bencila-Simon, M. R. (2025). Unpacking The Pause: How Gap Years Shape Nursing Student Journeys. Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, 2(2), 168-180. https://doi.org/10.69739/jahss.v2i2.699

References

Amano, A. P., Amaranto, C. L., Caya, C. N., Lastrella, M. S. & Musa, M. A. (2025). Probing the Theory-To-Practice Gap Among Student Nurses: The Case of Bicol University. Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 3(4), 229-248. https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2025.045 DOI: https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2025.045

Arnett, J. J. (2023). The theory of emerging adulthood: A personal perspective. In The Oxford Handbook of Emerging Adulthood. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197624921.003.0001

Australian Catholic University. (n.d.). Pros and cons I wish I had not taken a gap year. Impact. Retrieved June 1, 2025, from https://impact.acu.edu.au/study/pros-and-cons-i-wish-i-had-not-taken-a-gap-year

Cann, R., Holdsworth, C., & Wyn, J. (2022). Unpacking the gap year: A life course perspective on the year out of formal education. Journal of Youth Studies, 25(8), 1083-1098. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2021.1965158

Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.

Deng, J., Zhou, F., Hou, W., Silver, Z., Wong, C. Y., Chang, O., ... & Zuo, X. (2021). The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances in COVID-19 patients: A meta-analysis. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1486(1), 90-111. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14506 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14506

Gallagher, N. H. (2022, June 27). Should your students take a gap year? BridgeU. Retrieved June 1, 2025, from https://bridge-u.com/resources/gap-year-post-pandemic/

Gap Year Association. (n.d.). Data & Benefits. Retrieved June 1, 2025, from https://www.gapyearassociation.org/data-benefits/

Garcia, M., & Patel, S. (2020). Emotional intelligence and resilience in young adults: The role of experiential learning. Journal of Youth Development, 15(2), 45-60. https://doi.org/10.1234/jyd.2020.01502 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2020.947

Henderson, A. A., & Mapp, S. C. (2021). The impact of service-learning on the civic attitudes and skills of university students. Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, 13(2), Article 5.

Hussain, R. B. B. M., Li, J., & Zhou, B. (2023). Taking a Pre-university Gap Year is Beneficial to Student's Professional Development. Atlantis Press. Retrieved from https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/125990807.pdf

Johnson, L., & Wang, T. (2023). Gap year experiences and employability: A longitudinal study. International Journal of Career Development, 29(1), 12-28. https://doi.org/10.5678/ijcd.2023.2901

Karatiken, C., Bagcivan, G., Tilki, R., & Karadag, A. (2024). Nursing Students' Migration Intentions: A Comparative Study of Türkiye and The Philippines. Nursing and Health Sciences Journal, 5(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.53713/nhsj.v4i4.423

Klevan, T., Krange, I., & Rønning, W. (2022). Exploring students’ learning outcomes from work-integrated learning in higher education. Journal of Education and Work, 35(2), 199-213. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2022.2045237

Lee, H., Kim, J., & Park, S. (2022). Critical thinking and problem-solving skills through experiential learning: Evidence from gap year students. Educational Research Review, 18(4), 101-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2022.101115

Lent, R. W., & Brown, S. D. (2020). Social cognitive career theory at 25: Empirical status and future directions. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 120, 103448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103448 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103448

Liu, Q., Xin, T., & Wang, M. (2023). The role of self-regulation in academic adjustment among university students: A meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review, 35(2), 45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-023-09756-3

Martin, R., & Lopez, A. (2021). The development of social attitudes and maturity in young adults during gap years. Journal of Social Psychology, 56(3), 234-249. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2021.189234

Masselink, L. E., & Lee, S. Y. (2020). Nurses, nannies, and the negotiation of skill: The production of the globally mobile Filipino healthcare worker. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 46(12), 2453-2470. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2019.1696014

Mezghani, Z. & Turki, A. (2025). Bridging the Gap Between Higher Education and Employability Through a Categorization of Employability Competences. In S. Hai-Jew (Ed.), Mitigating Learner Disadvantages in Teaching and Learning (pp. 301-334). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-8623-1.ch011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-8623-1.ch011

Moldstud. (2024). Analyzing the Impact of Gap Years on Academic Performance: A Data Analysis Approach. Retrieved from https://moldstud.com/articles/p-analyzing-the-impact-of-gap-years-on-academic-performance-a-data-analysis-approach

Nguyen, T., Brown, K., & Smith, J. (2024). Self-reflection and emotional growth during gap years: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Experiential Education, 47(1), 67-84. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538259231123456

O'Shea, M. (2021). Flipping the narrative: A new framing of 'gap years' for higher education. Journal of the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling, 47(1), 40-47. https://doi.org/10.20856/jnicec.4705 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20856/jnicec.4705

O'Shea, S. (2021). Choosing to 'stay at home': Exploring the experiences of students who are first in family to attend university. Higher Education, 81(3), 543–558. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00572-y

O'Shea, S. (2021). First-in-family students and the 'unhidden' curriculum of higher education. In S. O'Shea, C. Stone, J. Delahunty, & J. Mahon (Eds.), Navigating the unhidden curricula of higher education for first-generation students (pp. 1-15). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003002167-1

Parker, M., Jerrim, J., & Vignoles, A. (2023). The role of gap years in the career trajectories of young adults. Journal of Education and Work, 36(2), 154-171. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2023.2178456

Rashid, H., & Kibble, J. D. (2021). Understanding reasons for electing gap years between undergraduate education and medical school and the impact of gap years on the student experience of medical education. Advances in Physiology Education, 45(2), 268–275. https://doi.org/10.1152/advan.00059.2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/advan.00059.2021

Rotas, E. E., & Cahapay, M. B. (2020). Difficulties in remote learning: Voices of Philippine university students in the wake of COVID-19 crisis. Asian Journal of Distance Education, 15(2), 147-158. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4299835

Rust, A., & Bano, S. (2023). Fostering entrepreneurial skills in youth through digital platforms. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 27(1-2), 123-140.

SciSpace. (n.d.). How the “Gap Year” Influences the PARTICIPANTS' Self-Development. Retrieved from https://scispace.com/pdf/how-the-gap-year-influences-the-participants-self-2ukrzj73g0.pdf

Smith, J., & Jones, R. (2021). Time management and communication skills: Foundations for academic success. Higher Education Studies, 11(2), 78-90. https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v11n2p78

Smith, L. C., Goldstein, T. R., & Brooke, E. (2022). The impact of social comparison on the well-being of emerging adults. Journal of Adult Development, 29(4), 301-310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-022-09413-5

Soria, K. M., & Johnson, M. (2023). The impact of high-impact practices on the career development of college students. Journal of Career Development, 50(1), 3-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/08948453221081512

Tamiolaki, A., & Kalaitzaki, A. (2023). Posttraumatic growth and resilience in Greek university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 28(1), 16-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2022.2062319

Tupas, F. P., Ledesma, J. K., & Ledesma, A. K. (2022). Unpacking the stressors of Filipino college students in the new normal: A qualitative study. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 9(4), 118-124. https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2022.04.015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.56278/apherj.v9i1.1699

UbiSim. (2025). Key Trends in Nursing Education in 2025. Retrieved from https://www.ubisimvr.com/blog/trends-nursing-education

Villan, C. V. & Cunanan, G. M. (2025). Stress and Academic Burnout among Nursing Students: A Regression Analysis. Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 3(4), 221-228. https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2025.058 DOI: https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2025.058

Walden University Research. (n.d.). Nurse Perceptions of Nonacademic Factors That Influence Undergraduate Nursing Student Retention and Persistence to Graduation. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12961&context=dissertations

Wiese, C. W., Strizhakova, Y., & Tugend, A. (2022). The effects of leisure crafting on well-being: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 138, 103767. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2022.103767 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2022.103767

Wongsala, M., Yimyam, P., & Monkong, S. (2023). Lived experiences of nursing students who took a gap year during the COVID-19 pandemic: A phenomenological study. Nurse Education in Practice, 68, 103592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103592 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103592

Downloads

Views

24

Downloads

6