Dissertation
Addressing matriculation rates for students ?admitted to an RN-BSN program?
University of Iowa
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Iowa
Spring 2025
Abstract
Background: Significant changes in the nursing workforce have affected the number of nurses available to fill vacant positions and the depth of knowledge and experience they bring to their roles. Experienced registered nurses (RNs) are leaving the bedside while the demand for complex care is increasing (NCSBN, 2023; Smiley et al., 2023). Hospitals employing a higher percentage of BSN-prepared nurses see significant improvements in inpatient mortality rates (Aiken et al., 2011) and overall patient outcomes (Blegen et al., 2013), demonstrating BSN-prepared nurses are best positioned to meet current healthcare demands (AACN, 2023b). Purpose: This project aimed to address low matriculation rates for students admitted to an RN-BSN program by implementing a proactive, comprehensive pre-orientation program. Methods: The pre-orientation program was implemented using a program development and evaluation design. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement s plan-do-study-act (PDSA) framework allowed project leads to plan, implement, and evaluate the program, and a pre-post survey was used to assess the interventions' effectiveness in impacting the students' sense of belonging, engagement, and self-efficacy. The program included welcome emails, faculty phone calls, virtual workshops, and face-to-face orientation sessions. Findings: Significant improvements were seen in students' sense of belonging to both the university and the RN-BSN program. However, the goal of increasing matriculation rates by 5% was not met. Low participation in program interventions was noted, likely due to students managing competing priorities. Discussion: While the pre-orientation program enhanced the sense of belonging, it did not immediately impact matriculation rates. Future efforts should focus on supporting students in managing competing priorities and exploring additional strategies to improve participation and retention. Strategies include coordinating with 3+1 ADN programs, engaging potential students earlier to reduce admission cancellations, expanding synchronous and asynchronous options to enhance participation, improving the cancellation capture system for better tracking, and reducing the application to enrollment timeline.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Addressing matriculation rates for students ?admitted to an RN-BSN program?
- Creators
- Nicole Weathers - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- M Lindell Joseph (Chair) - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Project Type
- Poster
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Health Systems/Administration
- Date degree season
- Spring 2025
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 1 page
- Copyright
- Copyright 2025 Nicole Weathers
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Nursing; Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
- Record Identifier
- 9984841529002771
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