Paper
Wednesday, 19 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Workforce Environment Initiatives
Academic Success in Ethnic-Minority Baccalaureate Nursing Students
Vaneta M. Condon, RN, PhD, Undergraduate Nursing Program, Loma Linda University School of Nursing, Loma Linda, CA, USA and Charlie Jo Morgan, PhD, RN, School of Nursing SLIPP, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Learning Objective #1: Identify three skills important for minority academic success.
Learning Objective #2: Discuss three strategies to improve academic, financial or social support.
Academic Success in Ethnic-Minority Baccalaureate Nursing Students
            The purpose of this presentation is to identify strategies that are important for the academic success of ethnic minority baccalaureate nursing students. Following the presentation the learner will be able to:
  1. Identify three skills important for minority academic success.
  2. Discuss three strategies to improve academic, financial or social support.
           Eighty ethnic-minority students with below admissions requirement GPAs or testing scores were selected for admission to the Success in Learning: Individualized Pathways Program (SLIPP). These students received one quarter of pre-clinical preparation which included classes in Critical Thinking/Study Strategies, Introduction to Nursing, Math, Medical Terminology, Writing/Information Processing and Reading skills.            Academic support strategies for SLIPP students included advising and mentoring by nursing faculty and RNs of ethnic backgrounds similar to that of the student, weekly study groups, and development of individualized “pathways” or goals. Financial support included living stipends, tuition discounts, grants, scholarships, work study employment and a computer for home use. Social support included peer support groups, and social activities. SLIPP students have demonstrated leadership skills as evidenced by classmates electing them as class officers and faculty selecting them as tutor/study group leaders.            Skills developed during participation in the SLIPP preclinical quarter which the students rated as being most important to their success in nursing included: exam taking skills, critical thinking, medical vocabulary, time management and note taking.            Eighty five percent of the original 80 SLIPP students have been successfully retained in nursing. Eighty-three percent of the students who have taken NCLEX-RN to date have passed the examination. Six percent are awaiting results and 11% are preparing to retake the examination because they failed it on their first attempt.                       The SLIPP project was funded for $651,857.00 over a three year period by a HRSA Nursing Workforce Diversity grant (#1-019-NU-40318).  

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