Innovative strategies for supporting disadvantaged nursing students in rural areas

Nurse educators play a vital role in supporting disadvantaged nursing students, especially in rural areas. This project implemented innovative strategies including full scholarships, academic support, and mentorship panels featuring rural nurse leaders role models to improve student success at a rural public university in the Midwest U.S.

Disadvantaged students-including those from low-income households, first-generation college backgrounds, and rural underserved communities-encounter substantial barriers to successfully completing nursing programs. To address these challenges, targeted interventions are essential to support their admission, retention, graduation, and transition into employment, particularly in rural and medically underserved communities (MUCs). This study analyzed admission, retention and graduation outcomes of 73 scholarship recipients. An online survey evaluated the effectiveness of various support strategies.

Admission and retention outcomes for disadvantaged nursing students improved substantially over the course of the project. Admission rates increased more than fourfold, rising from a baseline of 5 % in 2019 to 24.3 % by 2025. Among the 73 disadvantaged scholarship recipients, the retention rate reached 88 %, and all graduates achieved a 100 % pass rate on the RN licensure examination. Student feedback also reflected that 95.2 % of participants rating the mentorship panels as "very effective".

Scholarships and structured academic and social support programs improved disadvantaged students' success, contributing to a more diverse and competent nursing workforce. Holistic support, equity-focused access, and alignment with underserved community needs offer a practical framework for international nursing education to strengthen workforce diversity and reduce health disparities.