title: Combining traditional and RN students in a senior capstone experience: the student perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study explored the students' perspective related to combining traditional and RN student populations in a senior capstone course.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the final semester in a senior baccalaureate program, nursing students (N = 340) completed an investigator-designed 5-item survey. Data were reviewed independently by three investigators for emergent themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While the course content was applied differently by two student populations, both appreciated a seminar format that allowed increased creativity, autonomy, and flexibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Merits of an integrated course were more explicitly stated by traditional students, who viewed the RNs as a source of reality-based learning. Faculty sensitivity to the unique learning needs of each student population is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University East, Richmond 47374, USA.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Rains
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Fowler
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D004518:Education, Professional, Retraining / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D011361:Professional Competence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*