Holistic review of BSN to DNP applicants: A step-by-step approach to implementation

Now, more than ever, enhancement of diversity and inclusion is significant to the nursing profession. One way that nursing institutions can enrich diversity in the workforce is through enrollment of students from diverse backgrounds.

The overarching goal of this innovative admissions revision project was to implement and assess the process of holistic admissions in a BSN to DNP family nurse practitioner track.

Using a step-by-step approach, the authors in this paper present five key steps to implementing a holistic review of doctoral nursing applicants. These five steps are: (1) assessing fit of admissions criteria, (2) utilizing shared governance, (3) measuring admissions criteria, (4) analyzing reliability, and (5) evaluating revision outcomes.

The step-by-step approach to holistic admissions discussed in this paper was feasible and cost effective. The scoring tool developed for applicant videos demonstrated very good to excellent reliability among raters in two different scoring scenarios. Diversity enhancement among enrolled students was noted in gender, race, and ethnicity after a holistic review was implemented.

Findings from this innovative admissions revision have implications for nursing education, advanced nursing practice, organizational policy, workforce diversity, and student/patient outcomes.