Holistic Admission: What Is It? How Successful Has It Been in Nursing, and What Are the Possibilities?

Abstract

Holistic admission review (HAR) practices have been identified as a means to increase diversity in the nursing profession. HAR practices consider the whole applicant in a dignified and respectful manner, while focusing on valued experiences, attributes, and metrics needed for the nursing profession. Nursing has lagged behind other healthcare professions in implementing holistic admissions and with support from national organizations are starting to move onward. Interviewing applicants appears to be a process embraced not only by healthcare service organizations but now by schools (and colleges) of nursing (SONs) that have implemented HAR practices. There is much to gain and not much to lose by using holistic admissions. In addition, increasing diversity in nursing is the only way one can determine if nursing diversity improves health disparities. Faculty need to consider all that their SONs, the profession, and those they serve can gain by implementing holistic admissions.

Strategies to address structural and institutional barriers to success among students of color in nursing programs

“…Current research indicates that standardized college admissions tests (such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT) in the U.S.) account for no more than about 20% of the variance in first-year GPA ( Linn, 1989 ) and point to the importance of non-cognitive indicators of success ( Tepper & Yourstone, 2018 ). With the introduction of holistic admissions, the college began including an interview portion that offered applicants an opportunity to describe non-academic indicators of leadership, persistence, and commitment to nursing ( AACN, 2016 ; DeWitty, 2018 ; Morrow, 2021 ).…”

Admission characteristics that influence DNP students' first‐semester success: A retrospective study

“…Recently, the use of holistic admission practices has been suggested as a proactive method for addressing student retention through identifying the potential student's academic readiness, contribution to the educational environment, and potential for success as a professional 9 . Unlike other professions, nursing is relatively new to implementing this type of admission process 10 . Most of the literature found in nursing is aimed at implementing holistic admission practices to increase student diversity in undergraduate programs to match the diversity in the population 11–14 .…”

“…Through a broader lens, holistic admission practices facilitate an individualized assessment of an applicant's capabilities of being successful in an academic program. Using this method allows programs to give a balanced consideration of each applicant's prior experiences, attributes, and academic performance 10 …”

“…9 Unlike other professions, nursing is relatively new to implementing this type of admission process. 10 Most of the literature found in nursing is aimed at implementing holistic admission practices to increase student diversity in undergraduate programs to match the diversity in the population. [11][12][13][14] However, very little consideration has been given to the merit of using holistic admission practices in doctoral-level nursing education programs to address student retention.…”

“…Using this method allows programs to give a balanced consideration of each applicant's prior experiences, attributes, and academic performance. 10 Best practices utilizing a four-tiered model, the Experiences Attributes Metrics Model (EAM) was shared by the American Association of Medical Colleges 15 and recently adopted by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 16 to suggest four key principles when employing holistic admissions. The principles include not only the traditional academic characteristics, but also personal experiences, alignment with the university or school mission, potential contributions from the student, and other related demographic variables.…”