A Study of Program Completion and Attrition in One Baccalaureate Nursing Program in the Southeastern United States

摘要

Already facing a national hospital and long-term care registered nurse (RN) shortage, the current number of potential nurse candidates successfully completing baccalaureate nursing programs (BNPs) is not sufficient to meet the estimated demand for baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the United States of America (U.S.) and worldwide. Yet program attrition due to varying reasons leads to graduating nursing classes that are below the clinical programu27s admission limit in a particular BNP in the Southeastern U.S.--often considerably lower. The study used a convenience sample of all current or former BNP students enrolled in the university from the fall of 2004 to the spring semester of 2009. A descriptive, non-experimental approach was used for the study, utilizing a researcher-developed survey for data collection. Surveys were completed by 171 of the 243 recipients for a 70.37% response rate. Survey findings provided valuable information that may lead to the enhancement of systems of support leading to greater likelihood of BNP retention.