Admission Criteria for Undergraduate Nursing Programs: A Narrative Literature Review

Admission criteria for selecting the undergraduate nursing candidates have been a major concern in many countries over the past few decades. The quality of graduate nursing professionals appears to be associated with the effectiveness of undergraduate student selection processes.

This literature review aimed to assess and summarize the existing research evidence regarding undergraduate nursing program admission criteria.

Twenty-two eligible studies were selected for full review from PubMed, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, Scopus, ERIC, Medline, and CINAHL databases.

The following themes were identified using thematic analysis: grade point average, traditional interviews, and multiple mini-interviews as admission criteria. Studies on commonly used admission criteria, examining their effectiveness and limitations, were reviewed and analyzed.

The continuous development of admission criteria for undergraduate nursing education has both opportunities and challenges. To choose the best applicants for nursing programs, a thorough evaluation was required by using a multifaceted selection process that equally considers caring values, academic ability, and overall potential. This can significantly contribute to the progress of the nursing profession and, more importantly, the safety and quality of care that patients and local communities will receive.