The Academic Coach: A Program for Nursing Student Success

Abstract

Background: According to the U.S. Census, 63.7% of the population is Caucasian, whereas 36.3% are minorities. In the United States, 33.1% of RNs are considered ethnic minorities whereas in Nebraska only 6.3% of RNs are minorities. Specific measures are needed to prepare a more diverse nursing workforce. The use of specific supportive methods directed toward educationally disadvantaged and minority nursing students may improve retention. Method: The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing–implemented the Health Resources and Services Administration funded Generation Link to Learn (LTL) to help educationally disadvantaged students to be successful in a baccalaureate nursing degree (BSN) program of study. Results: Students in the LTL program were successful in the BSN program, with 88% (24 of 27) of students graduating. Conclusion: Multiple supports, including robust academic coaching and scholarships, are effective strategies to help educationally disadvantaged nursing students. [ J Nurs Educ . 2019;58(11):661–664.]

The Importance of Mentoring in Nursing Academia

“…To facilitate mentoring, faculty should utilize positive role-modeling with students [11]. The aforementioned is true because an academic mentor begins building relationships that promote educational and emotional growth [12]. Just as children learn from parents, students learn from their teachers viewed in many instances as academic mentors.…”

“…Faculty have to maintain the rigor level and uphold professional boundaries because students learn from what they see in action, not only from what they observe in the classroom. The mentoring environment for students should include security, protection, openness to diversity, and one that does not tolerate incivility [12]. Mentoring occurs in the classroom, clinical environments, laboratory environments and even public environments.…”

“…This is true because mentoring can retain students and nurses in our profession. Nurse educators must teach and demonstrate to students a desire to be successful [12]. Suppose students do not have positive experiences with academic mentoring, it is a possibility that negative experiences may contribute to the shortage of healthcare professionals in years to come.…”

Assessing Mentoring Effectiveness in Nursing Education: Students' Perspectives

“…There is a perceived shortage of academic mentoring in the healthcare profession, according to many academic healthcare students and faculty. For many years, there has been a nursing shortage in the healthcare industry due to a lack of mentoring (1,2) . When faculty support and mentor students, a foundation for academic mentoring skills in the healthcare profession is built.…”

“…Students learn how to treat others when they become mentors and are no longer the mentees through observing how instructors model mentorship in both clinical and theoretical settings (1) . Nurses and nursing students will be retained and their academic performance will be improved if academic mentoring is successfully introduced and promoted (2,3) . In order to give relationship-based support that enhances one or more areas of the mentee's development, mentoring is defined as a process that occurs between young Vol.…”