Learning Objective #1: Verbalize an understanding of what nontraditional re-entry female students experience as they progress through traditional baccalaureate nursing education

Learning Objective #2: Identify strategies that could be used to increase retention and enhance success for nontraditional re-entry female nursing students

---

The critical shortage of nurses has necessitated the development of strategies designed to recruit students from a variety of population groups. One category that has been targeted is reentry women. These students frequently fulfill multiple roles in life that must be blended with their student nurse responsibilities and can result in role stress and conflict. Limited research has been conducted with the population of reentry women enrolled in a college environment designed for traditional students. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience and margin-in-life of re-entry women enrolled in two traditional baccalaureate nursing programs in central Indiana. The theoretical framework for the study was McClusky's Power Load Margin Theory and the population consisted of ten re-entry nursing students who volunteered for participation. Simultaneous triangulation was employed applying quantitative and qualitative methods at the same time in order to enhance the understanding of the lived experience of the participants. Participants completed Stevenson's Margin-in-Life Scale and demonstrated an average margin of 0.60492. Systematic phenomenological analysis inspired by the work of Max van Manen revealed five main themes entitled success, support, transitions, challenges, and relationships. In an attempt to present a visual image to enhance understanding of the interaction between the five themes and the margin-in-life, a model entitled the Margin-in-Life Model was conceptualized. Further research is needed to fully develop an understanding of the lived experience of reentry women in traditional baccalaureate nursing education. This information could guide nursing education in the development of strategies to increase retention and enhance success of reentry nursing students.