Abstract
With the passage of the Affordable Care Act and as the number of aging and diverse individuals in society increases, access to health care will expand and the need for more competent and diverse nursing graduates will increase. An adequate number of nurse graduates is imperative to meet societal demands; however, this is complicated by high nursing student attrition rates. This article examines the need for more nurses (including those from diverse backgrounds), current attrition rates among schools of nursing, at-risk student characteristics, and previous attempts to increase student success. Applying the evidence to practice, findings from a multipronged approach to increase student success within an associate degree nursing program located within a historically Black college and university in the midwestern United States are discussed. The program’s successes and opportunities for improvement are examined, as well as the recommendations for other nursing programs facing issues with student attrition. [J Nurs Educ. 2014;53(1):31–37.]
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2012a). Nursing faculty shortage. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/nursing-faculty-shortage Google Scholar
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2012b). Nursing shortage fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/NrsgShortageFS.pdf Google Scholar
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2012c). Table 10. Race/ethnicity of students enrolled in generic (entry-level) baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral (research-focused) programs in nursing, 2002–2011. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/research-data/EthnicityTbl.pdf Google Scholar
- Anakwe U.P. (2002). The art of dialogue in building cross-cultural sensitivity in the classroom. Journal of Management Education, 26, 291–306.
10.1177/10562902026003005 Crossref, Google Scholar - Barbatis P. (2010). Underprepared, ethnically diverse community college students: Factors contributing to persistence. Journal of Developmental Education, 33(3), 16–20, 22, 24, 26. Google Scholar
- Beacham T., Askew R.W., Williams P.R. (2009). Strategies to increase racial/ethnic student participation in the nursing profession. The ABNF Journal, 20, 69–72. Medline, Google Scholar
- Bednarz H., Schim S., Doorenbos A. (2010). Cultural diversity in nursing education: Perils, pitfalls, and pearls. Journal of Nursing Education, 49, 253–260.
10.3928/01484834-20100115-02 Link, Google Scholar - Brown J., Marshall B.L. (2008). A historically Black university’s baccalaureate enrollment and success tactics for registered nurses. Journal of Professional Nursing, 24, 21–29.
10.1016/j.profnurs.2007.06.006 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Brown J.F. (2008). Developing an English-as-a-second-language program for foreign-born nursing students at a historically Black university in the United States. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 19, 184–191.
10.1177/1043659607312973 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Buerhaus P., Staiger D.O., Auerbach D.I. (2009). The future of the nursing workforce in the United States: Data, trends and implications. Sadbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett. Google Scholar
- Childs G., Jones R., Nugent K.E., Cook P. (2004). Retention of African-American students in baccalaureate nursing programs: Are we doing enough?Journal of Professional Nursing, 20, 129–133.
10.1016/j.profnurs.2004.03.002 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Colalillo G. (2007). Mentoring as a retention strategy in a diverse, multicultural, urban associate degree nursing program. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 2(2), 28–33.
10.1016/j.teln.2007.01.005 Crossref, Google Scholar - DeParle N. (2010, September16). The Affordable Care Act helps America’s uninsured. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/09/16/affordable-care-act-helps-america-s-uninsured Google Scholar
- Gardner E.A., Deloney L.A., Grando V.T. (2007). Nursing student descriptions that suggest changes for the classroom and reveal improvements needed in study skills and self care. Journal of Professional Nursing, 23, 98–104.
10.1016/j.profnurs.2006.07.006 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Gardner J. (2005). Barriers influencing the success of racial and ethnic minority students in nursing programs. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 16, 155–162.
10.1177/1043659604273546 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Gardner J.D. (2005). A successful minority retention project. Journal of Nursing Education, 44, 566–568. Link, Google Scholar
- Gilchrist K.L., Rector C. (2007). Can you keep them? Strategies to attract and retain nursing students from diverse populations: Best practices in nursing education. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 18, 277–285.
10.1177/1043659607301305 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Gilliss C.L. (2010). Making the case for nursing workforce diversity. Nursing Outlook, 58, 223–224.
10.1016/j.outlook.2010.07.002 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Gilmore M. (2008). Predictors of success in associate degree nursing programs. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 3, 121–124.
10.1016/j.teln.2008.04.004 Crossref, Google Scholar - Higgins B. (2004). Relationship between retention and peer tutoring for at-risk students. Journal of Nursing Education, 43, 319–321. Link, Google Scholar
- Higgins B. (2005). Strategies for lowering attrition rates and raising NCLEX-RN pass rates. Journal of Nursing Education, 44, 541–547. Link, Google Scholar
- Hoover D.R., Crystal S., Kumar R., Sambamoorthi U., Cantor J.C. (2002). Medical expenditures during the last year of life: Findings from the 1992–1996 Medicare current beneficiary survey. Health Services Research, 37, 1625–1642. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1464043/
10.1111/1475-6773.01113 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Hughes K.H., Hood L.J. (2007). Teaching methods and an outcome tool for measuring cultural sensitivity in undergraduate nursing students. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 18, 57–62.
10.1177/1043659606294196 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Humes K.R., Jones N.A., Ramirez R.R. (2011). Overview of race and Hispanic origin: 2010. 2010 census briefs. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-02.pdf Google Scholar
- Jeffreys M.R. (2007). Tracking students through program entry, progression, graduation, and licensure: Assessing undergraduate nursing student retention and success. Nurse Education Today, 27, 406–419.
10.1016/j.nedt.2006.07.003 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Jimenez C., Navia-Osorio P.M., Diaz C.V. (2010). Stress and health in novice and experienced nursing students. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66, 442–455.
10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.05183.x Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Juraschek S.P., Zhang X., Ranganathan V.K., Lin V.W. (2012). United States registered nurse workforce report card and shortage forecast. American Journal of Medical Quality, 27, 241–249.
10.1177/1062860611416634 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Kaufman K.A. (2010). Findings from the annual survey of schools of nursing academic year 2008–2009: Students are increasingly diverse but lack educational capacity still stymies enrollment growth. Nursing Education Perspectives, 31, 196–197. Medline, Google Scholar
- Kennedy H.P., Fisher L., Fontaine D., Martin-Holland J. (2008). Evaluating diversity in nursing education: A mixed method study. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 19, 363–370.
10.1177/1043659608322500 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Koenig J.M., Zorn C.R. (2002). Using storytelling as an approach to teaching and learning with diverse students. Journal of Nursing Education, 41, 393–399. Link, Google Scholar
- Love K. (2010). The lived experience of socialization among African American nursing students in a predominantly White university. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 21, 342–350.
10.1177/1043659609360711 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Morin K.H. (2007). Faculty Q&A. Journal of Nursing Education, 46, 297–298. Retrieved from http://www.healio.com/journals/jne/%7Bb0a617e9-3ac9-4b9d-8022-4ef9b155ba63%7D/faculty-qa Link, Google Scholar
- National League for Nursing. (2012). Percentage of minority students enrolled in basic RN programs by race ethnicity and program type, 2011. Retrieved from http://www.nln.org/researchgrants/slides/pdf/AS1011_F22.pdf Google Scholar
- Newton S.E., Moore G. (2009). Use of aptitude to understand bachelor of science in nursing student attrition and readiness for the National Council Examination-Registered Nurse. Journal of Professional Nursing, 25, 273–278.
10.1016/j.profnurs.2009.01.016 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Noble K.A., Miller S.M., Heckman J. (2008). The cognitive style of nursing students: Educational implications for teaching and learning. Journal of Nursing Education, 47, 245–253.
10.3928/01484834-20080601-08 Link, Google Scholar - Norman L., Buerhaus P.I., Donelan K., McCloskey B., Dittus R. (2005). Nursing students assess nursing education. Journal of Professional Nursing, 21, 150–158.
10.1016/j.profnurs.2005.04.003 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - O’Donnell H. (2009). The emotional impact of nursing student attrition rates. British Journal of Nursing, 18, 745–747, 750, 752–754. Medline, Google Scholar
- Peter C. (2005). Learning—Whose responsibility is it?Nurse Educator, 30, 159–165.
10.1097/00006223-200507000-00008 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Porter E. (2012, August21). Rationing health care more fairly. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/business/economy/rationing-health-care-more-fairly.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Google Scholar
- Ramsburg L. (2007). Strive for success: A successful retention program for Associate of Science in Nursing students. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 2, 12–16.
10.1016/j.teln.2006.10.005 Crossref, Google Scholar - Revell S.M., McCurry M.K. (2010). Engaging millennial learners: Effectiveness of personal response system technology with nursing students in small and large classrooms. Journal of Nursing Education, 49, 272–275.
10.3928/01484834-20091217-07 Link, Google Scholar - Roberson L., Kulik C.T., Pepper M.B. (2002). Assessing instructor cultural competence in the classroom: An instrument and a development process. Journal of Management Education, 26, 40–55.
10.1177/105256290202600104 Crossref, Google Scholar - Rochford C., Connolly M., Drennan J. (2009). Paid part-time employment and academic performance of undergraduate nursing students. Nurse Education Today, 29, 601–606.
10.1016/j.nedt.2009.01.004 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Rogers T.L. (2010). Prescription for success in an associate degree nursing program. Journal of Nursing Education, 49, 96–100.
10.3928/01484834-20091022-03 Link, Google Scholar - Rosenberg L., O’Rourke M.E. (2011). The diversity pyramid: An organizational model to structure diversity recruitment and retention in nursing programs. Journal of Nursing Education, 50, 550–560.
10.3928/01484834-20110616-02 Link, Google Scholar - Rudel R.J. (2006). Nontraditional nursing students: The social influences on retention. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 1, 47–54.
10.1016/j.teln.2006.06.002 Crossref, Google Scholar - Sayles S., Shelton D. (2005). Student success strategies. The ABNF Journal, 16, 98–101. Medline, Google Scholar
- Shearer R., Davidhizar R. (2003). Using role play to develop cultural competence. Journal of Nursing Education, 42, 273–276. Link, Google Scholar
- Sherman R.O. (2009). Teaching the net set. Journal of Nursing Education, 48, 359–360.
10.3928/01484834-20090615-01 Link, Google Scholar - Starck P.L., Love K., McPherson R. (2008). Calculating graduation rates. Journal of Professional Nursing, 24, 197–204.
10.1016/j.profnurs.2007.06.012 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Study Tips. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hope.edu/admin/upbound/PDFs/studytips.pdf Google Scholar
- Symes L., Tart K., Travis L., Toombs M.S. (2002). Developing and retaining expert learners: The student success program. Nurse Educator, 27, 227–231. Retrieved from http://journals.lww.com/nurseeducatoronline/Abstract/2002/09000/Developing_and_Retaining_Expert_Learners_The.11.aspx
10.1097/00006223-200209000-00011 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - United States Census Bureau. (2012, December12). U.S. Census Bureau projections show a slower growing, older, more diverse nation a half century from now [News release]. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb12-243.html Google Scholar
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2013). The health care law and you: Read the law. Retrieved from http://www.healthcare.gov/law/full/index.html Google Scholar
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. (2010). The registered nurse population: Findings from the 2008 National Sample Survey of registered nurses. Retrieved from http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/rnsurveys/rnsurveyfinal.pdf Google Scholar
- Wells M.I. (2003). An epidemiologic approach to addressing student attrition in nursing programs. Journal of Professional Nursing, 19, 230–236.
10.1016/S8755-7223(03)00069-3 Crossref Medline, Google Scholar - Wong S.T., Seago J.A., Keane D., Grumbach K. (2008). College students’ perceptions of their experiences: What do minority students think?Journal of Nursing Education, 47, 190–195.
10.3928/01484834-20080401-10 Link, Google Scholar
