Exploring Grit Among Black Prelicensure Nursing Students.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Workforce Diversity
• Psychology of Achievement

Background:

• The nursing profession faces persistent underrepresentation of Black nurses, impacting workforce diversity.
• Dominant white cultural norms in nursing may create barriers for ethnically diverse students' self-perception of success.
• Recruiting and retaining minority students in prelicensure nursing programs is a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of Black nursing students.
• To identify attributes of grit and perseverance within these experiences.
• To understand factors contributing to the success of Black nursing students.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing narrative inquiry.
• In-depth interviews with Black nursing students.
• Analysis of participants' stories focusing on grit and resilience.

Main Results:

• Participants' narratives revealed consistent effort and perseverance towards achieving academic and professional goals.
• Evidence of grit was consistently demonstrated through overcoming academic and social challenges.
• Experiences highlighted the importance of internal motivation and determination.

Conclusions:

• Grit is a key attribute enabling Black nursing students to navigate and succeed in their educational programs.
• Fostering an environment that recognizes and supports the grit of diverse students is essential for nursing workforce diversification.
• Understanding these lived experiences can inform strategies to improve retention and success rates for minority nursing students.