Abstract
The community college is a major site preparing students for nursing careers, an important role at a time of a national shortage. However, many of the low socioeconomic status (SES), minority students who aspire to associates degrees in nursing display low levels of academic preparedness. An analysis of 3-year institutional data from a single community college showed that a cohort of nursing aspirants were similar to students in other majors, but developmental-education outcomes differed for successful and unsuccessful students. To address serious difficulties in retention and academic performance found for the group as a whole, a nursing-specific tutoring, advisement, and counseling intervention is recommended.
The collaboration of two senior administrators at the community college that participated in this study is gratefully acknowledged. Without them, the study could not have been conducted. Thanks also to Miriam Goldstein and Samantha Mosher for their assistance with data analysis.
Notes
∗All courses taken, resulting in both letter and administrative grades.