Date of Award

8-2015

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Executive Leadership

First Supervisor

Sandye Johnson

Second Supervisor

Byron Hargrove

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to measure the resiliency of nursing students in a post-baccalaureate accelerated nursing program (ANP). ANP programs were created to meet the demands of more qualified nurses because there is a consistent concern about nursing shortages in the United States and globally. The demands of the ANP program require that students be able to respond effectively to the challenges and difficulties that arise during the intense curriculum in order to be successful in the program. With current concerns over nursing shortages and the lack of diversity within the nursing profession, it is important to examine the resiliency of nursing students in ANP programs, specifically non-traditional nursing students. The study compared two groups, traditional and non-traditional nursing students. Traditional nursing students are White females, while non-traditional nursing students are males and females of color. This study used an archival research design based on a longitudinal survey conducted by the nursing school the students attended. The archival information from the school was examined and data were compared over a nine-month period. Nursing students in the accelerated program completed the Connor-Davidson Resiliency Scale (CD-RISC) in September and then again in April. The CD-RISC is a 25-item survey using a Likert scale and has been given in over 200 studies with various populations. The present study found that even though non-traditional students had a lower resiliency at the beginning of the study, their resiliency developed and increased by the end of the study.

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