Retention in Nursing Program: Factors Contributing to the Success of ESL Students

Retention in Nursing Programs: Factors Contributing to the Success of ESL Students by Patience Jegbefu Mbulu MS, University of Maryland, 2008 BSN, University of Maryland, 2005 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Walden University August 2015 Abstract The problem addressed in this project is the high attrition rate among English as Second Language (ESL) students in a local community college associate degree nursing program. If the retention problem is addressed, the increase in the number of ESL nursing student graduates could result in a more diverse nursing workforce, reflecting the diversity of the community. The purpose of this study was to examine student and faculty viewsThe problem addressed in this project is the high attrition rate among English as Second Language (ESL) students in a local community college associate degree nursing program. If the retention problem is addressed, the increase in the number of ESL nursing student graduates could result in a more diverse nursing workforce, reflecting the diversity of the community. The purpose of this study was to examine student and faculty views regarding factors that contribute to the academic success and retention of ESL students. To that end, a qualitative case study approach was used, guided by the theoretical frameworks of Cummins’s contextual interaction theory and Freire’s and Mezirow’s transformational learning theory. By using purposeful sampling, 8 ESL students and 5 faculty members were interviewed in both structured and unstructured interviews. The data were decoded using Nvivo computer software to establish themes and categories for analysis. The themes pointed to faculty lacking: (a) cultural awareness and sensitivity, (b) knowledge of the academic needs of ESL students, (c) knowledge of teaching strategies to accommodate the learning of ESL students, and (d) skills to prepare ESL students for what to expect. The findings led to creating a professional development workshop for faculty and led to recommending that the director and dean of the nursing program make it mandatory for faculty to continue their education on skills to improve academic success of ESL students. The findings suggest administrators should make cultural awareness competency compulsory. These efforts and faculty training may result in broader positive social change for ESL students and faculty, administrators, and the community, improving the number of graduating nurses to serve a diverse patient population. Retention in Nursing Program: Factors Contributing to the Success of ESL Students by Patience Jegbefu Mbulu MS, University of Maryland, 2008 BSN, University of Maryland, 2005 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Walden University August 2015 Dedication To the memory of my Father, Omoluyi Agbi, who showed me how a lady ought to be treated. To my mother, Oseikpo Agbi, who had no education but ensured I receive one so I could read letters from her siblings to her. To my brother, Wilson Ebo who paved the way for me to come to the U.S.A. To my older sister, Mercy Agbi, the best sister anyone could ask for. Acknowledgments My sincere gratitude to my wonderful family, my husband Christian, my daughter Ifeoma, and my son Emeka for all the encouragement, understanding, support, patience, and the hard work they put in to help me achieve this dream. Dr. Mari Vawn Tinney, my committee chair, I will forever be grateful for your guidance, encouragement, support, and for sharing your wealth of knowledge with me. Dr. Jean Sorrell, I am enormously grateful for your consistent encouraging feedback and for sharing your wealth of knowledge with me. Dr. Mohamed Tazari, I appreciate your excellent help with my dissertation process. To Sybil Barnaby and Earl Black, thanks for constantly reminding me that every doctoral degree holder went through the same process. I would also like to thank the Director of nursing, Barbara Nubile, Dean Angie Pickwick, Dianna Matthews, Diane Barberesi, and Mary Hartig for their support.