reasons identified by associate degree nursing students for planning to attend a baccalaureate...

Reasons Identified by Associate Degree Nursing Students for Planning to Attend a Baccalaureate Completion Nursing Program Within Five Years of Graduation

Candice Kiskadden, BSN, RN

Abstract Overview

Mixed design, descriptive study

Approximately 100 nursing students

Data collected using anonymous survey technique

King’s Theory of Goal Attainment

Nursing programs can benefit from findings

Why is a BSN important?

Higher functioning in critical skills:

Critical thinking

Communication

Leadership

Assessment

Teaching

Counseling

Case Management

Health Promotion

(Rosseter, 2012)

Encouraging more BSNs

Very few ADN RNs advance to BSN

BSN RNs have better patient outcomes

ANA, NLN, AACN support BSN as entry-level nursing

BSN education equals higher level of critical clinical reasoning

Background of the Problem

Three pre-licensure pathways for RNs Diploma Associate degree Baccalaureate degree

Same NCLEX-RN

80% overlap in RN responsibilities in ADN versus BSN

Other healthcare professionals require a master’s degree

To identify reasons why second year associate degree nursing students are planning to or not to pursue their baccalaureate degree within five years.Statement of the Problem

What reasons were identified by final semester, second year ADN students as contributing to their decision to obtain their BSN within 5 years? Research Question

Need for the Study

A gap in the current literature why ADN students do not choose RN-BSN Programs

Insight to encourage current ADN students to pursue a BSN

Advancement of professional nursing

Significance of the Problem

2010 IOM “The Future of Nursing” recommends at least 80% of nursing workforce have BSNs

2008-2010 data from US Dept. of HHS: only 44.6% are BSN prepared

RNs with a BSN are prepared to problem solve at a higher level

RNs with a BSN have better patient outcomes

Assumptions

Student nurses who participate will give honest answers to survey questions.

Findings will be based solely on the perspective of the student nurses.

King’s Theory of Goal Attainment provides a sound theoretical foundation for this study.

Limitations

Small sample size

Data from one geographic location in NW PA

Sample from one private Catholic university

Sample size may not be depictive of the focus as a whole

Participating student nurses may not represent the population whole

King’s Theory of Goal Attainment may not be an accurate reflection of the reasons identified

• Comparison of Baccalaureate and Non-baccalaureate Nursing Programs

• The Educational Impact on Nursing• RN-BSN Programs: Benefits, Incentives, and Barriers• Conceptual Framework

Literature Review

Overview

Patient outcomes drive the nursing profession

Schools have adapted to healthcare needs

No real change in practice for BSN has occurred

Emphasis needs to be placed on the importance of a BSN to be a professional nurse.

Comparison of Baccalaureate and Non-baccalaureate Nursing Programs

Nursing supervisors often do not rate performance of BSNs and ADNs differently Less perceived value of BSN Contradicts nursing literature

If nursing supervisors do not value BSN-prepared RNs, non-baccalaureate RNs are less likely to value BSN

Health care facilities with increased BSN RNs have better patient outcomes

The Educational Impact on Nursing

Aiken, Clarke, Cheung, Sloane, and Silber (2003): 10% increase in the proportion of BSN RNs equaled a 5%

decrease in patient mortality and odds of failure to rescue

Friese, Lake, Aiken, Silber, and Sochalski (2008): Increased BSN RNs had lower odds of patient death and lower

levels of failure to rescue

With RN-BSN Programs, a culturally, socio-economically and ethnically diverse RN workforce is possible

Recognition of importance of RN-BSN Programs from nursing governing bodies

RN-BSN Programs: Benefits, Incentives, and Barriers

Improved patient outcomes

Opportunity for all RNs to be BSN prepared through RN-BSN Programs

70% of RNs are diploma or ADN, only 15% currently will achieve BSN or higher

RNs who felt likely to have success in RN-BSN Programs were more likely to pursue BSN

Incentives:• Right time in life• Options• Personal goal achievement• Professional identity• Peer encouragement• User-friendly RN-BSN Program

Barriers:• Time• Fear• Lack of recognition for

experiential knowledge• No differential treatment• Negative past school experiences

Imogene King’s Theory of Goal Attainment: Application to the Study

The “action” of nursing students to consider options like RN-BSN Programs

Optimum use of resources to reach full potential

RN-BSN Programs can influence RNs to optimally use resources and reach their full potential

King’s Theory of Goal AttainmentImogene King’s Conceptual Framework for dynamic nursing interactions

(Sieloff-Evans, 1991, pg.6)

MethodologyStudy Plan

Research Design

A mixed-design, descriptive study

Uses both quantitative and qualitative data

The survey: Three questions related to demographic data items and Eight closed-ended study questions

Calculated using descriptive statistics Thematic analysis of three open-ended study items

Presented in the narrative

Setting

The study will be conducted at a private, Catholic university, located in Northwestern Pennsylvania Pending IRB approval

The university has approximately one hundred second year nursing students enrolled each year

Sample

Includes second year nursing students enrolled in an associate-degree nursing program in the spring of 2014

Convenience sample

Only second level nursing students will be used

Ethical Considerations

Participation is strictly voluntary

Permission will be obtained from the IRB

Return of the reply considered consent for participation

No names or identifying data will be collected for confidentiality

No risks posed to participants or coercion through distribution of the surveys

Instrumentation

A 14-item survey instrument used for data collection Developed specifically for this study Factors identified in the review of literature King’s Theory of Goal Attainment

Survey items will be: Designed to elicit specific responses

Second-year associate degree nursing students Decide to not pursue a BSN within five years Plan to pursue a BSN within five years

Instrumentation Continued

Survey instrument includes: 3 demographic data items 8 closed-ended study questions Calculated using descriptive statistics Thematic analysis of three open-ended study

items presented in the narrative

Instrumentation Continued

The questionnaire will include: Demographic data

Age Gender Home city and state

Collected to enhance the description of the sample Open-ended questions

May be quoted to enhance discussion

No way to attribute any specific quote to any individual student who participates in the study

Data Collection

Obtain approval of the university’s IRB

Data will be collected from the second-year nursing students Arrangements will be made to identify the appropriate classes

Data Collection Continued

On an approved date and identified time: Online survey questionnaire Using Blackboard learning platform Overview presentation of study and request for participation Students will be able to review instructions for completion Contact information will be listed Reinforcement of anonymity No names will be able to be retrieved from the survey

Data Analysis

3 demographic data items

8 closed-ended study items Calculated using descriptive statistics Findings will be presented

Thematic analysis of the 3 open-ended study items Common “themes” in answers Findings will be presented in the narrative

Time Schedule

Students will be given sufficient time to complete the survey during the visited class.

Data collected over two classroom days for each of the second year nursing student classes.

Data analyzed within the week of collection

Completed within 3 weeks of the study.

The Survey InstrumentThe Second-Year Associate Degree Nursing Student Questions

Demographic Data My age is:

[ ] at least 18 years of age, but less than 23 years of age





[ ] 48 years of age or older

My gender is: [ ] Female [ ] Male

Identify your city and state of residence (your home town).

City: _____________________________________

State: _____________________________________

Study Data: The First Question

After obtaining my Associate of Science in Nursing degree, I plan to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing by enrolling in a RN-BSN Program within the next 5 years.

[ ] Yes [ ] No

Study Data Continued

An associate degree to baccalaureate degree in nursing (RN-BSN Program) is worth the time commitment to me.

[ ] completely agree [ ] somewhat agree [ ] neither agree nor disagree [ ] somewhat disagree [ ] completely disagree


An ADN nurse is considered to be a professional nurse.



An ADN program of study prepares me nursing equally for the workforce as a BSN program of study.



An associate degree in nursing offers me the same level of practice and nursing care as other nursing tracts (Diploma, BSN) at a lower educational expense.



A baccalaureate degree in nursing provides me more opportunity for advancement in the workforce.



Having a baccalaureate degree will allow me to make more money in my lifetime than an associate degree in nursing.



A baccalaureate degree provides me more opportunity for advancement in the workforce.


Three Open-Ended QuestionsStudents are to complete ALL questions

Open-Ended Questions

Reasons why I would obtain my BSN after graduating from an ADN program…

Reasons why I would NOT obtain my BSN after graduating from an ADN program…

I would look for a RN-BSN Program that offers…

Conclusion

Findings can assist nursing programs to foster better transitions from ADN programs to BSN through effective bridge programs

reasons identified by associate degree nursing students for planning to attend a baccalaureate...

Documents

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problem slide

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