The U.S. healthcare system faces a looming problem of what could be a dire shortage of nursing staff available in the near future (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2014). The ability of our healthcare system to meet the needs of our maturing population, coupled with the vast amounts of retiring nurses, will require over one million new nurses needed by 2022 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013). The only solution to this crisis is to increase the number of successful nursing program graduates. Nevertheless, there are over 30% of eligible nursing program applicants not accepted each year, largely due to a lack of available nursing faculty and corresponding clinical location (National League for Nursing [NLN], 2016). Associate degree
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nursing program graduates (NLN, 2016). This fact positions ADN graduates as a vital resource for meeting the required amounts and diversity necessary in the nursing labor force (Fulcher & Mullin, 2011). However, admission standards and success factors for BSN programs have been the principal focus of the research community (Czubatyj, 2010). (Campell & Dickson, 1996) utilized a meta-analysis of studies which illustrated a link between successful program completions and students’ exam scores with the strongest correlation supporting preadmission grade point average (GPA). Wells' (2007) suggests social and external conditions, as well as academic factors contribute to program outcomes. However, there is a gap in the current literature as it lacks a methodical evaluation of findings which are specific to ADN program outcomes. The lack of research for ADN programs causes alarm as these students tend to be dissimilar than their BSN program counterparts. ADN program participants tend to be less academically prepared and are more likely to hold family or work responsibilities, have restricted financial resources (O'Gara, Karp, & Hughes, 2009), and come from diverse ethnicities (Fulcher & Mullin, 2011). The purpose of this research project is to identify correlations between program admission factors, GPA and standardized test scores, with student retention and successfully passing licensure examination on first attempt. This will
nursing program graduates (NLN, 2016). This fact positions ADN graduates as a vital resource for meeting the required amounts and diversity necessary in the nursing labor force (Fulcher & Mullin, 2011). However, admission standards and success factors for BSN programs have been the principal focus of the research community (Czubatyj, 2010). (Campell & Dickson, 1996) utilized a meta-analysis of studies which illustrated a link between successful program completions and students’ exam scores with the strongest correlation supporting preadmission grade point average (GPA). Wells' (2007) suggests social and external conditions, as well as academic factors contribute to program outcomes. However, there is a gap in the current literature as it lacks a methodical evaluation of findings which are specific to ADN program outcomes. The lack of research for ADN programs causes alarm as these students tend to be dissimilar than their BSN program counterparts. ADN program participants tend to be less academically prepared and are more likely to hold family or work responsibilities, have restricted financial resources (O'Gara, Karp, & Hughes, 2009), and come from diverse ethnicities (Fulcher & Mullin, 2011). The purpose of this research project is to identify correlations between program admission factors, GPA and standardized test scores, with student retention and successfully passing licensure examination on first attempt. This will