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Learning Objective #1: The learner will be able to list at least five activities that occur between instructor, school and student that impact student nurse retention.

Learning Objective #2: The learner will be able to list at least best practices for student nurse retention as told by successful nursing students.

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This mixed-methods research examined student nurse retention methods perceived as best practice by directors and coordinators in selected Associate Degree Nursing (AND) programs within the Florida Community College System (FCCS). The critical nursing shortage is expected to worsen over the next twenty years due to the aging workforce and the inadequate supply of qualified nurse graduates. The Associate degree nursing programs supply the majority of nursing graduates to the workforce. Thus, the associate degree nursing programs and student retention measures were studied. The research was conducted using Delphi process survey of the expert directors of nursing in ADN programs within the FCCS. This survey served as the template for faculty surveys which were distributed to faculty members from the selected ADN program directors. Students were surveyed with a similar Likert type scale with focus groups to allow for open-ended interviewing. The qualitative data was analyzed and eleven best practices were identified. Extensiveness offered strength to this research as these best practices were selected by directors of nursing, faculty and students in the ADN programs. This information will be helpful for nursing program curriculum and program planning. Future research can use a quantitative look at each best practice. This study could also be replicated at other venues.