Prescription for success in an associate degree nursing program

In the midst of a national nursing shortage and a demanding health care environment, nursing programs must prepare more nurses by facilitating student success from admission to program completion to licensure. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the factors that contribute to student success in associate degree nursing programs and on the NCLEX-RN(®). Six seniors and three faculty members were interviewed, and a document analysis was conducted. Emergent themes were categorized as student related, collaborative, and curriculum related. These themes included, but were not limited to, the need for support systems, motivation, health care experience, critical thinking skills, prioritization of roles and responsibilities, diligent study habits, and faculty involvement. Recommendations for practice and research are discussed in this article.