VOCATIONAL NURSE STUDENT PREDICTORS OF SUCCESS (ATTRITION, NURSING STUDENTS).
Contributors: University of San Francisco.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 67
Subjects: Education, Educational Psychology.; Education, Community College.; Education, Guidance and Counseling.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Student attrition in higher education has been a subject of concern for many years. National studies of attrition rates in nursing education programs ranged from a low of 20% to a high of 41%. This research, however, focused primarily on registered nurse programs.

Although Vocational Nurse (VN) Programs also show high attrition rates, research has been insufficient. Vocational nursing programs are usually located on community college campuses and cater to older, part-time, and commuter students. Although the reasons are unclear, this nontraditional college population shows a higher attrition rate than the traditional 4-year college student group.

This study investigated common themes and variables that would be predictive of success for students in a community college vocational nurse program. A sample of 28 subjects completing their final semester of a program in northern California completed a self-administered survey questionnaire. Out of these 28 participants, 11 randomly selected subjects met with the researcher in individual interviews.

A correlation analysis of standardized tests, prior educational achievement, and participants' age generally reflected a normal distribution. Many positive correlations emerged among various service areas that the college provides. No statistically significant results were found, however, possibly due to the small sample size. As a qualitative research project, however, the subjects attributed their success to commitment, confidence, hard work, and support.

Using narrative therapy, and viewing the subjects as experts on their own behavior, the sample of successful students reported on the factors they thought had led to their persistence in the program. Their predominant themes were commitment, confidence, organization, prior health care experience, and moral, emotional, and financial support from family, friends and employers.

Future studies involving a larger number of subjects might yield more meaningful and measurable statistics. An experimental design comparing successful students with students who have experienced program probation or dismissal could reveal other variances that would further understanding about characteristics and themes that might be predictive of success in a vocational nurse program. Such a study might also suggest methods that might be useful in remediating students who experience difficulties so that they too can find success.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-04, Section: A, page: 1487.

Thesis (ED.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, 1996.

School code: 6019.