title: A pilot project to evaluate the academic performance, abilities, and satisfaction of second-degree students.
abstract: The literature on students matriculated in the growing number of second-degree nursing programs in the United States typically describes them as exceptional on many parameters of interest. The experience at the authors' university in an integrated second-degree baccalaureate nursing program did not support prevailing notions regarding these students. The purpose of this pilot project was to evaluate the performance and satisfaction of second-degree students in comparison to traditional students. The Learning and Study Strategies Inventory, a standardized exit examination, the nursing grade point average (GPA), and focus groups were used in the evaluation. Findings showed little difference between second-degree students and traditional students on the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory and no difference in exit examination scores and nursing GPA. Social and learning differences were apparent as a result of the focus group experience.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA. Krista.Moe@uky.edu
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.forename: Dorothy Ann
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brockopp
authors.forename: Lee Anne
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Walmsley
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diebold
authors.forename: Sima Rinku
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Maiti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013338:Students, Nursing; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States