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Online RN to BSN Education: Characteristics of Student Success

Zuspan, Rebecca E.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4740-9730
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou149070446994361

Abstract Details

2017, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Higher Education (Education).
Non-traditional college students enrolled in online academic studies experience higher attrition rates than traditional aged students in a campus setting. In recent years, the body of knowledge regarding academic success of not only online students has been widely examined, as has the success of students enrolled in undergraduate nursing programs. However, research that utilizes available survey instruments to determine characteristics of successful students in online RN to BSN programs is minimal to this point. Increased retention of students in online RN to BSN academic programs is critical to ensure student satisfaction, education institution revenue generation, and to address the projected future nursing shortage. Using Bean and Metzner’s non-traditional student attrition model as a framework, existing instruments were modified and utilized to capture student characteristics at the onset of their online baccalaureate nursing study in an effort to determine whether student academic success in an online RN to BSN program could be determined by similar characteristics as online students in general. Quantitative statistical analysis was completed of Likert-scale data aligning with Bean and Metzner’s non-traditional student attrition model. Additional student characteristics examined were age, gender, marital status, computer availability, educational background, hours worked weekly, current semester hours of enrollment, previous online college education enrollment, length of time since previous college enrollment, and current educational funding source. It was concluded that characteristics affecting attrition and success of online undergraduate students in general are dissimilar to characteristics affecting RN to BSN student success. However, it was determined that grade point average level of the initial baccalaureate course in question was found to be positively correlated to future enrollment in subsequent terms. Other factors specific to this academic program warrant further research, including the utilization of a compressed, five-week course format, and the fact that all students have demonstrated academic success in their prior associate degree nursing programs.
Peter Mather (Advisor)
124 p.
Education; Educational Technology; Health Education; Higher Education; Higher Education Administration; Nursing
RN to BSN; nursing; online; higher education; BSN; student success; student retention; student attrition; bachelor of science; student characteristics; baccalaureate; registered nurse; quantitative research

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zuspan, R. E. (2017). Online RN to BSN Education: Characteristics of Student Success [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou149070446994361

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zuspan, Rebecca. Online RN to BSN Education: Characteristics of Student Success. 2017. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou149070446994361.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zuspan, Rebecca. "Online RN to BSN Education: Characteristics of Student Success." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou149070446994361

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou149070446994361
994
© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.