Adult student satisfaction in traditional and accelerated RN-to-BSN programs

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Adult Learning Theory
• Higher Education Administration

Background:

• Increasing complexities in healthcare necessitate advanced nursing education.
• Registered nurses (RNs) are pursuing Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees to meet these demands.
• Higher education institutions are developing innovative, nontraditional nursing program delivery models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess essential educational components for adult learners in RN to BSN programs.
• To compare student satisfaction between traditional and accelerated BSN program delivery formats.
• To identify factors influencing satisfaction in continuing nursing education.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 53 RN students enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
• The study compared two delivery formats: traditional and accelerated.
• An adult students' priorities scale was used to measure educational importance and satisfaction levels.

Main Results:

• Students in the accelerated BSN program format reported higher satisfaction.
• Satisfaction levels were significantly greater regarding the institution, program, and services in the accelerated format.
• No significant difference was found in the perceived importance of educational items between the two groups.

Conclusions:

• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs may offer a more satisfactory educational experience for registered nurses (RNs).
• Nontraditional, accelerated delivery models are effective in meeting the needs of adult learners in nursing.
• Institutions should consider program format when aiming to enhance student satisfaction in RN to BSN programs.