Profile of nonnurse college graduates enrolled in accelerated baccalaureate nursing programs

Accelerated baccalaureate nursing programs have been found to be a feasible way of increasing the supply of professional nurses at a time of declining enrollments in schools of nursing. This study explored the sociodemographic characteristics of nonnurse college graduates who pursue baccalaureate degrees in nursing. Students' gender, age, income, previous education, occupation, work setting, and nursing experience were studied. Data were collected from 166 nursing students (71 per cent) from the 10 (100 per cent) schools of nursing in the United States that offered the accelerated baccalaureate nursing programs in 1988. The findings of this study have important policy implications for nursing administrators, educators, and recruiters for planning of this type of nursing education program.