a descriptive study to assess the prevalence of quiet quitting among nursing students at a selected college of Nursing, New Delhi

Abstract

Background: With the increasing academic and professional pressures of today, keeping students motivated and engaged, especially in the demanding nursing field, is becoming more difficult. This field requires not only intellectual strength but also emotional resilience, ethical dedication, and a defined sense of purpose. However, as coursework becomes more rigorous and students encounter additional stressors—such as challenging clinical settings and high expectations—they often become emotionally exhausted and disconnected from their educational journey. One indicator of this disengagement is the phenomenon of "quiet quitting," where students fulfill their basic responsibilities but mentally and emotionally withdraw from their education and overall academic experience. This subtle yet significant trend of disengagement has consequences for productivity, learning outcomes, professional identity, and long-term career satisfaction. This issue is particularly concerning within nursing education, as nursing students are the future caregivers at the bedside, and their empathy, attention, and initiative are critical for patient safety and quality healthcare delivery. The current study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of quiet quitting among nursing students at a selected college of Nursing in New Delhi.

Method and materials: The research approach adopted for the study was quantitative approach with descriptive research design. The tool developed for the data collection was Self-structured demographic characteristics questionnaire and Quiet Quitting Scale by Petros Gelani. This tool is validated by seven experts and reliability was also assessed. Sample consisted of 238 students Rufaida College of Nursing, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. Samples were selected by purposive sampling.

Results: Maximum 59.2% belonged to age 20–21 years, 65.5% were female, 56% belonged to DGNM 2nd year and 54.46% belonged to B.Sc. Nursing 3rd year, 49.2% had experience of patient care in a hospital other than academic clinical postings, 50.8% were self-motivated to join nursing, 52.5% had financial responsibilities towards the family, 51.2% are satisfied with working with patients, 35.3%  felt patient overload is the major reason for stress, 37.8% (90) of respondents felt fatigue is the reason for lack of ambition, 25.5% felt lack of coordination among peers is the most challenging aspect, 82.4% were connected to nursing values after joining nursing, 74.8% who were motivated to attend college, 88.7% were not detained due to poor attendance, 87.8% were not detained in any clinical subject or repeated the subject. Findings related to the level of quiet quitting shows that maximum 70.59% of the study population shows quiet quitting tendencies.

Conclusion: The study concluded that the majority of nursing students exhibited signs of quiet quitting. This reflects a significant level of disengagement that may affect academic progress and professional readiness. Early interventions, counseling, and supportive academic strategies are recommended to enhance motivation and participation among nursing students.

How to cite this article:
Dagar V, Lal V. A Descriptive Study to Assess the
Prevalence of Quiet Quitting Among Nursing
Students at a Selected College of Nursing, New
Delhi. Int J Nurs Midwif Res.2026;13(2):15-19.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.9318.202607