OUTCOMES AMONG RETRAINED AND UPGRADED WORKERS WHO GRADUATE FROM WASHINGTON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING PROGRAMS (NURSING PROGRAMS, RETRAINED WORKERS, CAREER CHANGE).
Contributors: Washington State University.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 163
Subjects: Education, Community College.; Education, Higher.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Adult and Continuing.
Description: The investigator examined the effects of job upgrading and retraining among individuals who graduated from Washington State community college associate degree nursing programs. Examined were selected outcomes of academic success, nursing licensure attainment, job acquisition, change in standard of living, and satisfaction with chosen career among graduates.

The problem researched was to what extent community college nursing programs have placed their graduates in the job market, as well as helped graduates with job upgrading or career change. Four hypotheses were developed that tested final GPA, passage of the National Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, job attainment success, and financial status improvement among those with career change experiences, those with job upgrading experiences, and those with neither of these experiences.

Data on the total population of graduates of Washington State associate degree nursing programs in the 1990-91 school year were used for quantitative analysis. Data were obtained from the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, from individual community colleges, and from the Washington State Board of Nursing. Interview data on educational effectiveness and satisfaction were obtained from three group interviews held at sites across the state. Questionnaires mailed to graduates were used to verify group interview results.

Analysis of data showed no significant differences among graduates on final grade point average or job attainment. Eighty-three percent of graduates obtained jobs after graduation. No significant difference was found among graduates on obtaining Registered Nurse licensure, and there was no significant difference among graduates in financial status. Average salary for those with health care jobs was $30,994.00.

Most participants indicated a high level of satisfaction with their job and career choice. Participants richly described satisfaction with their career by addressing rewards of recognition, respect, responsibility, growth in job skills, and opportunity for career advancement.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-08, Section: A, page: 2858.

Thesis (ED.D.)--WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, 1993.

School code: 0251.