BACCALAUREATE NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS: MEETING THE NEEDS OF NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS (POLICY, CHANGES, OPEN CURRICULUM).
Contributors: University of Pittsburgh.
Published: 1985
Number of pages: 224
Subjects: Education, Health.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study was undertaken to determine changes in the past decade in policies and open curriculum structure related to nontraditional, adult, students in three nursing programs in Western Pennsylvania. An interview schedule was developed and used for interviews of faculty and administrators, and for analysis of information from primary source documents. Using descriptive statistics, the data were analyzed; then, they were cross validated, correlating current and historical information. Comparisons were made among the institutions.

Among the major changes made within the past decade as related to nontraditional students in the baccalaureate programs was the development of an associate degree nursing program from which graduates have since enrolled in the baccalaureate program. Other changes involved adult education programs, and a nursing program which could be completed solely on a part-time basis. The changes which were similar among the three nursing programs included modifications in admissions, placement methods, challenge examinations, and other policies, which resulted in increased numbers of nontraditional students enrolling in part-time nursing study. Changes which differed included faculty decision methods, completion time, scheduling, attrition, attendance and residency requirements, allowable transfer credits, employment of graduates, and specific requirements for admission, challenge examinations, and full-time study.

The data analysis indicated that, in all three baccalaureate programs studied, positive improvements had been made in meeting the needs of nontraditional students as compared with both their own previous practices and with the 1979 National League for Nursing report on open curriculum. Further research should include detailed studies of nontraditional students graduating from baccalaureate nursing programs, and expansion of the present study to determine if the positive changes indicated in this research are a continuing trend to be found on a national basis.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-09, Section: A, page: 2575.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, 1985.

School code: 0178.