ATTRITION OF ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING STUDENTS.
Contributors: University of Pittsburgh.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 100
Subjects: Health Sciences, Education.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate the demographic and academic factors that may relate to attrition of Associate Degree Nursing students. The study covers a six year period at the Community College of Beaver County, starting with September 1980. The study was limited to students enrolled in the Associate Degree program who persisted or withdrew from the program over five continuous semesters (n = 243). The data collected from student records included: (1) age, (2) sex, (3) financial aid, (4) high school class standing, (5) high school quality point average or entrance quality point average, (6) American College Test scores, (7) pattern of admission to program--directly through college or through allied health option, and (8) quality point average at the end of the core curriculum (end of second semester), prior to entry into the Associate Degree nursing option.

Statistically, one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the variables of the persisters and nonpersisters to find which of them varied. Individual t tests were used where appropriate and a sequence of t tests were used on variables for persisters and nonpersisters. Chi square was used on dichotomous variables such as sex, financial aid, and type of admission to the program. Sex and age were found to be non-significant to attrition in this study. Academic factors can be used to screen out the academically high risk students. The allied health option and financial aid were found to be non-significant for attrition.

The conclusion of the study was that traditional admissions criteria screen out the academically high-risk student, but do not differentiate persisters and nonpersisters.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-05, Section: B, page: 1602.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, 1987.

School code: 0178.