The new non-traditional student in nursing

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Higher Education Studies

Background:

• Baccalaureate nursing programs attract diverse student populations.
• Understanding differences between traditional and non-traditional students is crucial for effective educational strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare traditional and non-traditional undergraduate nursing students.
• To identify differences in demographics, goals, support systems, study habits, learning styles, and clinical judgment.
• To inform policies and educational strategies for nursing programs.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of traditional and non-traditional undergraduate students.
• Differentiation based on age, sex, marital status, and prior higher education experience.
• Analysis of demographic variables, educational goals, support systems, study habits, learning style, and clinical judgment skills.

Main Results:

• Non-traditional students showed higher semester grade point averages.
• Non-traditional students exhibited superior clinical judgment skills.
• Learning styles differed between the two groups, though teaching methods were similar.

Conclusions:

• Non-traditional students are a valuable asset to nursing programs.
• Educational curricula should accommodate individual learning differences.
• Policies and strategies should be developed to support diverse student needs in nursing education.