Student’s Academic Transition Issues: Associate Degree to Baccalaureate Nursing

Health care requires increasing the number and quality of registered nurses to the baccalaureate level to address part of the critical nurse shortage problem and need for highly qualified professionals. Two major national initiatives examining the nursing workforce issue in the United States recommend decreasing barriers, refining academic pathways and facilitating nurses return to school for higher levels of education by streamlining nursing education between community colleges and baccalaureate programs. Nurses prepared at higher levels have demonstrated stronger patient outcomes and ability to provide safe and effective care. This study sought to define barriers, priorities and enhancement/motivational factors, as identified by students, during transition from associate degree to baccalaureate nursing degree completion programs. Additionally, demographic data was compared to barriers and enhancement factors to determine if any associations between these exist. Students were provided with an electronic survey tool that allowed easy access and return. The outcome data from this pilot study provides nursing educators and professional practice leaders a better understanding the barrier factors, allowing leaders to design programs, delivery models, advising, and address needed areas of additional support or elimination to promote student success. At the same time, identified enhancement factors can be increased, streamlined for students.