Paper
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
This presentation is part of : Posters
"Surviving": Experiences of RN Students
Marilyn Evans, RN, PhD, Linda Ritchie, RN, PhD, Melanie MacNeill, RN, EdD, and Sandra Micsinszki, RN, MEd. Nursing, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
Learning Objective #1: Gain an understanding of the experience of returning to school for a baccalaureate degree from RN students' perspectives
Learning Objective #2: Discuss strategies for nursing curriculum development that are based on identified holistic learning needs of returning RN students
Objective: Rationale for baccalaureate preparation for nurses is well documented and the long-standing vision of the nursing degree for entry into practice is becoming a reality. Accessibility to baccalaureate education for registered nurses (RN) is a major consideration for nurse educators given this change in educational preparation for professional practice. In 2000, one Canadian university began offering a twelve month baccalaureate program to RNs to provide accessible education for these students who typically balance school work with family responsibilities and career. Evidence-based practice for univerity faculty requires the use of education and practice oriented research in the development of curriculum. Despite the large numbers of RNs returning to school, a review of the literature revealed no recent studies exploring their experiences. The purpose of this study was to gather the students' perception regarding their academic experiences to assist faculty in developing a curriculum and program that is evidence-based and supports the academic success of these returning RNs. Design: Descriptive/exploratory Sample: Twelve post basic RN students Methods: Participants engaged in semi-structured interviews which were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data was analyszed using thematic analysis. Findings: A major theme of "surviving" emerged from the qualitative analysis. Surviving embraced the themes of "the quest", "the struggle", and "the aftermath". Conclusions: Returning RNs have unique needs to be addressed by nursing curriculum. Findings: Returning RN students engaged in a process that involved high expectations, challenges and hope. Implications: Implications for nursing curriculum and program development and recommendations for further research are discussed.

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Sigma Theta Tau International
July 21, 2004