Supporting post-secondary health science students with atypical trajectories: Lessons learned from British Columbian radiography students returning to clinical education after a lapse of time

Most academic programs experience attrition, and radiography is no exception. What happens when former students attempt to return to their hands-on studies after a lapse of time? There is a dearth of research examining the student experience of integrating back into a work-place educational environment after a lapse in their studies. Medical Radiography Technology Diploma students in British Columbia who left their respective programs at some point and returned to a clinical practicum term after a lapse of time were invited to participate in a survey using a Likert scale and comment section to examine their experiences in multiple aspects. The three survey participants were also invited to participate in one-on-one narrative interviews; one chose to participate in an interview providing rich narrative data. Sharing the realities of students who face the challenge of returning to clinical education after a lapse of time provides insights and lessons illuminating the needs of this under explored area of post-secondary student support.