Preparing African American nurses for graduate school: practical tips.

Abstract: Returning to school for an advanced degree in nursing is a major lifetime decision and a new phase in life, whether you set an academic, career or professional goal. As in any new experience some degree of anxiety is to be expected and could result in frustration and uncertainty. For some African American students navigating the application process can be a challenging experience. However by following a few practical tips and using a variety of resources, your experience can be an exhilarating and a successful accomplishment. The primary aim of this article is to delineate strategies for academic success with a focus on African American students who are considering graduate education in nursing. This article offers practical help on how to get started in selecting a graduate nursing program, details on navigating the application process, and suggested approaches for surviving in graduate school. Key Words: Graduate School, Graduate Nursing, Graduate Education, African American Nurses, Nursing Education For many students of color returning to school to pursue graduate education can be a challenging and daunting experience. Oftentimes African American students already have multiple roles that they are attempting to fulfill, such as, head of household, parent, and health professional employee. Assuming the role of a graduate student is an added responsibility to what may seem to be an already overwhelming lifestyle. Some students are able to progress on their own with little assistance and adjust well to graduate school, while others may become overwhelmed with just getting started. Before enrolling in any graduate nursing program, students should check to ensure that graduate education is the right next step. Before embarking on this endeavor, be certain that it is what you intend to do, and that you are able to commit the time needed to be successful. SETTING THE GOAL Consider an advanced degree as a long-term goal that can take several years to achieve. Make sure that your educational goals and expectations of the experience are realistic for advanced study. Set a goal that will allow the time needed to achieve in the graduate program and for the scope of this task. Be flexible and prepared to change your goals if needed. It is important to have energy, time and confidence in your desire and ability to succeed in your graduate work. You must handle the process with maturity and flexibility. Academic achievement in obtaining the degree evolves from effort, patience and understanding. By using a few simple strategies, the potential applicants to graduate nursing education programs will be prepared to manage the graduate school process and increase the likelihood for successful admission and completion of the degree. WHAT GRADUATE SCHOOL ENTAILS An accredited graduate nursing program in a college or university awards the master's or doctoral degree as evidence of advanced study. The master's degree in nursing prepares you for advanced practice nursing in direct care roles such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, certified nurse-midwife, or nurse educator (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 1994). The master's degree program typically requires one to two years of course work and some programs, in addition, require the writing of a thesis. Doctoral level programs require the completion of a dissertation or capstone project. The writing of a thesis, capstone project, or dissertation is a component of higher levels of education designed to identify significant problems, investigate the effect of those problems, analyze the findings from the perspective of a conceptual framework, relate the findings to important concepts, and report conclusions and implications in a prose style format that others can understand. In order to face the rigorous demands of nursing graduate school, for example, conducting research or writing a thesis or dissertation, the student must be very disciplined and able to invest a significant amount of time to this endeavor. …