MOTIVATIONAL ORIENTATIONS OF NON-NURSE COLLEGE GRADUATES ENROLLED IN ACCELERATED BACCALAUREATE NURSING PROGRAMS.
Contributors: George Mason University.
Published: 1989
Number of pages: 139
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Since the mid-1980's, the number of accelerated baccalaureate nursing programs for non-nursing major college graduates has steadily increased. This increase occurred in response to the declining enrollment of traditional college nursing student and the overall nursing shortages. Consequently, there is the need to learn about this group of students' unique characteristics and learning requirements.

This study explored the socio-demographic characteristics of non-nurse college graduates who pursue a baccalaureate degree in nursing, examined the relationships among the socio-demographic characteristics and their motivational orientations of education participation, and attempted to determine if and how the motivational orientations of these students differ from those of general adult learners.

The study instrument consisted of Boshier's Education Participation Scale (EPS) and a socio-demographic questionnaire. All 10 schools in the country that offer the accelerated baccalaureate nursing programs participated in this study. Data from 166 (71%) of the 234 students enrolled in these programs in the fall of 1988 were analyzed.

This group of students came from diversified backgrounds in their initial baccalaureate education and in their previous working experience. The typical non-nurse college graduate student enrolled in the accelerated BSN programs was a female, between 24-28 years of age, single, had worked a few years, and had an average monthly household income of $1,550 prior to enrollment. Most of these students supported themselves. They stopped working while enrolled and needed financial assistance.

Ease of employment, improved income and potential for upward mobility for professional nurses were important reasons influencing these students to enroll in the accelerated baccalaureate nursing programs. Moreover, they seemed to be extremely "Goal-Oriented", with approximately 98% of them indicating that they planned to use their education to achieve a goal.

The motivational orientations for these students were significantly different than those of general adult learners as demonstrated in Boshier's study. Community Service and Professional Advancement were the motivational orientations that had most strongly influenced their decision to enroll in the accelerated BSN programs.

The results of this study suggest that, overall, there were very few significant relationships among the sociodemographic variables and motivational orientations.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-08, Section: B, page: 3408.

Thesis (D.N.SC.)--GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, 1989.

School code: 0883.