The problem addressed in this study was the lack of critical thinking (CT) and clinical judgment (CJ) skills of senior level associate degree nursing students entering nursing orientation programs. The purpose of this randomized Solomon four-group pretest-posttest comparative study was to compare CJ and CT of senior level ADN students entering…

Research suggests that newly graduated nurses lack confidence in caring for deteriorating patients and this lack of confidence could lead to poor patient outcomes. The aim of this project was to examine the effectiveness of a simulation intervention on the confidence level of Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students in caring for deteriorating…

In this study, associations among emotional intelligence, background variables, and academic performance in prelicensure nursing students enrolled in associate and baccalaureate degree nursing programs are explored. A gap in the literature exists regarding the specific background variables utilized in this study and the population. This study used…

Numerous studies indicate that new nursing graduates lack the ability to respond quickly in situations with deteriorating patients and are struggling with competency and clinical judgment. As healthcare increases in complexity and the nursing workforce declines, new and innovative teaching methods are needed for clinical experiences to produce…

The responsibility for educating U.S. nursing students on end-of-life (EOL) care concepts lies with prelicensure nursing programs; however, the majority of all prelicensure nursing programs offer only a few lectures, and only a small percentage offer EOL and palliative care courses. The lack of education on EOL care results in greater stress for…

Exploring Perceptions of Peer Mentoring, Stress, and Confidence of Associate Degree in Nursing Student Mentors During Clinical Learning ExperiencesDue to a critical nursing shortage, the nursing profession needs many new graduate nurses prepared for practice. Many preparation strategies exist, yet there is a gap in nursing research regarding peer…

The US lack of nurses to meet healthcare demands is a national crisis (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2021). Attrition rates in nursing programs compound the nursing shortage. Community colleges are where a number of nursing students attend to complete an Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) program. Community college leaders and educators have a…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare mean first-time pass rates on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) of nursing graduates who were trained in hybrid versus traditional prelicensure nursing programs in California from 2018 to 2023. A theoretical framework in constructivism connects this…

Background: Thriving in associate degree nursing students has not been well studied. Nursing students frequently describe their education as very stressful. When self-care and stress management are inadequate, students' well-being is adversely affected, adversely affecting patient care. Objective: This study examined whether creative thinking by…

Community college nursing students, specifically African American women, faced a myriad of challenges in the pursuit of higher education during the first year of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Most notably, in March 2020, the pandemic caused many community colleges to expeditiously transition to remote learning modalities. African…

Understanding the factors that influence nursing students to stay or leave a nursing program is vital to ensure our population has prepared nurses to care. Low student retention leads to fewer nurse graduates, negatively impacting the nursing shortage. Although several factors contribute to the nursing shortage, with many well beyond the influence…

The nursing profession is in the midst of an epic shortage that will require an additional 400 thousand new nurses by 2026 due to an aging population (Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2019) and it's estimated that 11% of the current workforce will leave the profession entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Raso et. al., 2021). Simultaneously, the…

This research study explored a gap in the knowledge related to nontraditional RN-to-BSN students and their retention and persistence. Nontraditional students face a higher risk of leaving their undergraduate program before completion, and the attrition rates for RN-to-BSN programs vary greatly. Research has shown a positive correlation between…

Nursing schools are limited in how many students can enter programs due to low faculty members, and faculty burnout is a concern. Nursing shortages at the bedside have encouraged strategies to increase the nursing workforce, including recruiting graduate nurses. However, insufficient faculty and student attrition are issues that prevent increasing…

Nursing educators are challenged to find strategies that will develop critical thinking and clinical judgment abilities in students. As technology has advanced, the use of virtual simulation platforms has increased in use in nursing courses. This study examined the effect of a pilot virtual simulation intervention on critical thinking and clinical…