Growing grit: Perseverance and passion in nursing education

Grit, or a person's "perseverance and passion for long-term goals," is a noted character trait for success. This qualitative descriptive study explored the experiences and challenges faced by nursing students, focusing on how these experiences shaped their educational journeys and exploring the role of perseverance and passion in nursing education and its potential for student success in a nursing education program.

Purposive sampling was utilized to select study participants from higher education institutions in Southeastern Pennsylvania. To guide the interview, an interview protocol was developed which included a comparison table of the open-ended interview and probing questions and the Grit-S scale, an 8-item self-evaluation tool that quantifies perseverance of effort (perseverance) and consistency of interest (passion). Data were collected via semistructured virtual interview. Data were managed with ATLAS.ti 9 used in coding and analyzing transcripts and creating data visualization.

The data analysis identified four themes: managing goals, confronting challenges, emerging interests, and experiencing supportive relationships. The study identified student perceptions of the factors that impacted their perseverance for long-term goals and their passion for nursing, assisting in their success.

Recognizing the crucial role played by perseverance and passion in a student's success empowers nursing programs and faculty to consider implementing strategies to nurture interest and support students as they pursue their long-term objectives. The results of this study supported the interplay of perseverance and passion. Recommendations for nursing education include fostering supportive relationships and student-centered instructional techniques as well as organizing seminars or similar programs during the first year of their curriculum to grow perseverance and inspire passion.