Collaborative Baccalaureate Programs: Preliminary Data on Canadian Undergraduate Nursing Students' Satisfaction

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Higher Education
• Healthcare Professions

Background:

• Ontario, Canada, mandated a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) as the entry-level requirement for Registered Nurses (RNs) a decade ago.
• This study examines initial findings from a longitudinal investigation into undergraduate student satisfaction within a collaborative BScN program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess undergraduate nursing students' satisfaction with their collaborative BScN program.
• To identify predictors of satisfaction in nursing education.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to BScN nursing students at collaborative sites.
• Data collection utilized both paper-and-pen and online survey methods.

Main Results:

• Students expressed high satisfaction with their collaborative nursing education (M ± SD = 183.9 ± 32.7).
• Conflict, regardless of type, demonstrated a significant negative correlation with satisfaction across all domains.
• No other significant predictors of satisfaction were identified.

Conclusions:

• The collaborative model for baccalaureate nursing education is highly regarded by students.
• Interpersonal or programmatic conflict significantly diminishes student satisfaction in all aspects of nursing education.