A comparison of RN students in two types of baccalaureate completion programs

The purpose of this study was to compare perceptions of nursing programs and attitudes toward professional nursing behaviors in entering and exiting registered nurse students enrolled in generic and second step baccalaureate degree completion programs. The convenience sample of 233 registered nurse students was drawn from eight baccalaureate nursing programs in a metropolitan area. Data included a student profile, perceptions of program in which enrolled, a professional attitude scale, and demographics. Data were factor analyzed to cluster items into distinct empirical groups and then examined by analysis of variance using program type and entry/exit status as covariates. Factor analysis of program perception data delineated six principal factors. On two of the factors, overall nursing role attainment and communication ability, entering second step students held significantly higher expectations. However, responses of exiting students as to how well expectations had been met were similar between the two program types. Similar analysis of the professional attitude scale differentiated five factors. Results showed that among students entering both program types, second step entrants had significantly more professional attitudes (p less than .01). Differences between the exiting groups were not significant. This study suggests that professional attitude formation is not dependent upon type of baccalaureate completion program in which enrolled but may relate to type of prior nursing education.