title: A Bridge to Success: A Nursing Student Success Strategies Improvement Course.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nursing student success and retention is in the forefront of educators' minds as we continue to face a projected nursing shortage. The key to combating the nursing shortage lies with our ability to successfully transition the student from nursing school and NCLEX-RN(®) to professional practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quantitative research project using the one group pre- and posttest design is presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The research demonstrated that students' perceived stress levels decreased and self-efficacy increased following the success strategies improvement course. There was no relation between age and retention or the number of hours worked per week and retention with this cohort of students. The retention improvement from first semester to second semester following the course was only minimal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The course was a success in that it did influence a positive change in perceived stress and self-efficacy; however, it only provided minimal change in student retention. Student satisfaction with the course was strong. [J Nurs Educ. 2016;55(8):450-453.].
authors.forename: Laura Pruitt
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult