Holistic Admissions Review in Nursing Education: A Concept Analysis Using Rodgers’ Evolutionary Method

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze holistic review within the context of collegiate nursing program admissions. BACKGROUND Holistic review is the evaluation of individual qualifications for college admission based on a pattern of individualized factors, including standardized scores, personal characteristics, experiences, abilities, and educational/ professional "fit." Medical schools regularly use holistic review, and more nursing schools may adopt holistic review in the future. METHOD Rodgers' evolutionary method of concept analysis was used to examine usage in current praxis. RESULTS Findings support a desire to enhance diversity in collegiate, health-related programs while increasing numbers of culturally competent, qualified providers representative of the US population. CONCLUSION Holistic review promotes diversity of nursing students and future nurse providers. This concept analysis provides a unified definition of holistic review to promote educational and health-care-related equity through increased representativeness of nursing students and future nurses.

Creation of a holistic admissions review process: A promising change designed to promote diversity and inclusion in nursing education

“…Toward this end, holistic admissions processes promote diversity among nursing students and thus future nurse providers. [4] According to the University of Nevada School of Medicine (UNSOM) Health Policy Report, [5] the RN workforce in Nevada at that time included 72.2% Whites, 17% Asians, 3.7% Hispanics, 3.1% Blacks, and 1.7% Pacific Islanders. Interestingly, except for those who were White (72.2%) or Black (3.1%), the percentages of RNs representing each ethnic group were higher than those found in the U.S. population as a whole.…”