title: Registered nurse students: academic admission and progression.
abstract: Review of the literature reveals no current studies on predictors of registered nurse success in baccalaureate programs. This retrospective study investigated the relationship between preadmission variables for RNs (grade point average [GPA] in previous course work, year of birth, and number of years of full-time or part-time work prior to admission) and subsequent achievement in a baccalaureate nursing program. Eighty-one RNs, of which 65 completed the program, were the sample for this study. Predictions of success for the study were determined by program completion and final nursing GPA (NGPA). Factor analysis of the variables revealed that RNs who passed all challenge exams had significantly higher mean NGPAs than RNs who did not pass all challenges. Also, RNs who had not received a D in previous course work at the time of enrollment had significantly higher NGPAs than RNs who had received a D. The data found significant in this study can be useful to faculty admission committees in attempting to predict RN success in baccalaureate programs. It can also be helpful in promoting successful outcomes for RNs in generic programs.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kroll
mesh_terms: D004496:Education, Continuing; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004518:Education, Professional, Retraining; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D013332:Student Dropouts