Addressing the challenges of nursing student attrition.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Workforce Development
• Health Equity

Background:

• The Affordable Care Act and an aging, diverse population increase demand for healthcare services.
• A growing need for competent and diverse nursing graduates is projected.
• High nursing student attrition rates pose a significant challenge to meeting workforce demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the need for increased numbers of nurses, including those from diverse backgrounds.
• To analyze current nursing student attrition rates and identify at-risk student characteristics.
• To evaluate a multipronged approach aimed at increasing student success in an associate degree nursing program.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on nursing student attrition and success strategies.
• Analysis of attrition rates and at-risk student profiles in nursing programs.
• Implementation and evaluation of interventions within an associate degree nursing program at a historically Black college and university.

Main Results:

• The study details a multipronged approach implemented in an associate degree nursing program.
• Findings highlight the program's successes in improving student retention and success.
• Opportunities for further improvement within the program are identified.

Conclusions:

• Addressing nursing student attrition is crucial for meeting societal healthcare demands.
• Targeted interventions can enhance the success and retention of nursing students, especially from diverse backgrounds.
• Recommendations are provided for other nursing programs experiencing student attrition challenges.