Economic Impact of Nursing Student Course Repetition

Abstract

Background: Nursing student course repetition is a common occurrence and results in consequences for students and institutions. Purpose: This study sought to describe the costs of course repetition for nursing students and nursing programs. Methods: A qualitative multiple case study approach was used to consider 4 cases, which were analyzed according to Stake's methodology. Results: Students who repeated courses experienced loss of anticipated income and additional expenses associated with extending their time in school. Institutions tended to have limited economic impact so long as attrition was prevented. Conclusions: Nursing programs can consider altering policies to help those who repeat or providing proactive support to prevent students from failing and needing to repeat.

Reverse Mentoring in Nursing Education

“…In contrast, the vast majority of nursing faculty are White women1 and older: the mean ages of nursing faculty by rank of professor, associate professor, and assistant professor were 62.5, 56.7, and 50.6 years, respectively 17. Whether these racial disparities and widening generational divides are contributory, a perennial decline exists of historically disenfranchised students finishing nursing programs, which bears urgent attention if we are to diversify the nursing workforce 3-5. Learning to teach across these generational and racial divides is essential to nursing education; reverse mentoring may be one such strategy.…”

“…Therefore, nursing faculty interact with increasingly younger, diverse students with different learning needs and sociocultural and economic barriers 2. The economic downfall related to nursing student failure is troublesome for students and maintenance of the nursing pipeline, requiring urgent intervention 2-5. Nurse leaders must find innovative means to graduate all students who dream of becoming a nurse.…”