Exploring Student Perceptions of Retention Issues in a 3-year Baccalaureate-Level Nursing Program

Abstract

The nursing shortage, a major concern for the United States, has a multitude of causative factors. Nursing education has been tasked with helping to decrease the shortage of qualified registered nurses. Poor retention of nursing students in higher education is impacting the number of qualified nurses entering the workforce. Nursing education has historically been a high attrition area due to the stress and rigor of the curriculum. The general problem is that a severe and worsening shortage of registered nurses is increasingly putting the health and well-being of society at risk. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple-case study was to explore the perceptions of graduates and faculty members of a 3-year baccalaureate nursing program regarding the factors that influenced the graduates to overcome obstacles and remain in the program. A purposeful sample of recently completed nursing students from one campus in a private, for-profit nursing university will be interviewed. Six faculty members at the campus participated in a focus group to understand their perception of student retention. The findings are that faculty-student relationships and family support are important for nursing students to remain in their program and graduate to become registered nurses. Further research is recommended with students and a full-time retention nursing specialist to be on the campus.