Table 1: Review of the Literature
Authors/ Study Purpose Design/ Evidence Level Major Findings Billingsley et al.
(2007). Healthy student, healthy nurse, a stress management workshop
Describe workshops for student nurse stress management
Descriptive study/Level
IV Stress reduction
workshops can decrease stress and possibly improve retention of nursing students
Bridges et al.
(2013).
Transition to nursing practice of accelerated second- degree baccalaureate students using clinical coaches
Identify the importance of a clinical coach to assist nursing students
Phenomenological
study/Level III Positive findings with a clinical coach, included working one-on-one with the nursing student. Supportive measures increase retention rates Fontaine (2014).
Effects of a retention intervention program for associate degree nursing students
Analysis of an orientation process on managing anxiety and referrals if counseling is needed
Qualitative study/Level
III The program was
successful in implementation of supportive and motivational measures. Further research needs to be completed on structured retention activities
Freitas and Leonard (2011).
Maslow’s
hierarchy of needs and student
academic success
Analyze survival needs that influence student success
Qualitative study/Level II
Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs should be met for student success.
Galbraith and Brown (2010).
Assessing intervention effectiveness for reducing stress in nursing students:
Quantitative systemic review
Describe
Interventions for reducing stress in nursing students
Quantitative systematic review/ Level I
Stress interventions, remediation, and relaxation
techniques assisted students with coping with stressful situations. This study was successful but needs further research
Gibbons et al.
(2008). Stress and
Interpret stress found in nursing
Qualitative study/Level 1I
Interventions such as effective teaching
eustress in nursing
students students styles, student
support, and empathy can improve retention Hopkins (2008).
Early identification of at-risk nursing students: A student support model
Identify students at risk for failure
Descriptive study/Level VI
Early model of retention with predictions about struggling students
Klainin-Yobas et al. (2013). The mediating effects of coping on the stress and health relationships among nursing students: A
structural equation modeling approach
Analyze the stress and coping on a group of nursing students
Qualitative study/Level 1I
Student stress should be monitored and managed.
Interventions on stress management should be put in place. Further research on stress in nursing
Lundberg et al.
(2011). Perspectives on nursing: Using multimedia interviews to influence career decisions
Analyze information about multimedia and nursing students career decisions
Qualitative study/Level
VI The students found
the videos helpful and found they had gained knowledge about the nursing profession
McKendry et al.
(2014). Why here and why stay?
Students’ voices on the retention strategies of a widening participation university
Analyze data about retention of nursing students
Qualitative study/Level VI
The students found that faculty and peer support were
important for retention. This study prompted change to the nursing
curriculum at a university.
Melincavage (2011).
Student nurses’
experiences of anxiety in the clinical setting
Describe anxiety in the clinical area that effects retention
Qualitative
phenomenological/Leve l VI
Educators worked with nursing
students to decrease anxiety with success
O’Donnell (2011).
Expectations and Decipher why
students left the Qualitative study/Level
VI Study found that
several ex-students
voluntary attrition in
nursing students nursing program
early had unrealistic
expectations of the nursing program Pullen et al. (2009).
Nursing the numbers through faculty recruitment and student
retention
Describe a model of support for
increasing the number of nurse educators and ADN nursing students
Descriptive study/Level IV
Success and retention with the implementation of a nursing boot camp with online modules, pharmacology care groups,
supplemental instruction, and interactive web- based student support network Ramsburg (2007).
Strive for success: A successful retention program for
associate of science in nursing students
Develop a
successful retention program
Qualitative study/Level VI
Success in
implementation of an advisor to guide nursing students in a positive direction.
Retention rates doubled
Urwin et al. (2010).
Understanding student nurse attrition: Learning from the literature
Describe attrition
from nursing school Descriptive study/Level
V Factors contributing
to attrition can help educators work with students. Several multifaceted influences.
Williams (2010).
Attrition and retention in the nursing major:
Understanding persistence in beginning nursing students
Teach goals and problem-solving abilities to nursing students
Qualitative Study/Level
VI Persistence and
ambition were keys to success with nursing students.
Keeping up, not giving up, doing it, and connecting to resources.
See Table 2 for explanation of the various evidence levels (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011).