Arriving at Success: Academic Management by Hispanic Nursing Students During the First Semester of a Baccalaureate...

Although an ethnically diverse workforce is believed to enhance patient care quality, Hispanics are under-represented in the nursing workforce. Recruiting and retaining Hispanic students in nursing programs is essential for greater workforce participation. This grounded theory study explored practices used by Hispanic nursing students to promote their academic success during the first semester of a baccalaureate program. Fifteen Hispanic nursing students participated in focus groups and individual interviews. Students engaged in an adaption process composed of phases related to arrival, managing, and responding to evaluations. For entering Hispanic nursing students, recognizing the weight of different assignments and adjusting time and energy accordingly were essential in the process of arriving at success. Finances, family dynamics, dealing with potential failure, and time management were significant concerns.