Masters Thesis

Screening procedures of nursing program: a six year study of the screening procedures in the Associate Degree Nursing Program of Fresno City College of Fresno County, California

Nursing schools have long been Interested in Improved methods of choosing students who would be successful in the practice of nursing. As early as 1927, various kinds of tests were widely used. The National League for Nursing now conducts extensive Pre-nursing and Guidance Services for schools of nursing. Many collegiate schools of nursing use testing services in order to screen their applicants. Our ever increasing need for nurse’s warrants research into improved ways of choosing nursing students who will successfully complete their nursing education. According to the Surgeon General's report, "Toward Quality in Nursing-Needs and Goals," by 1970 the nation will need 830,000 professional nurses, compared with approximately 621,000 practicing nurses in 1966. It is an economic waste to the student, to the instructors, and to the college to admit students to a nursing program only to have them withdraw or not complete the program. Further research is sorely needed in regard to dropouts for according to Taylor recruiting, selecting and educating nurses is costly to the institution, to say nothing about the psychological and financial cost to the individual in terms of loss of time, effort, and personal disappointment. An evaluation study of the screening technics used at Fresno City College Nursing Programs has never been done. The highest rate to date was 54 percent in 1967. The national average attribution rate ranged from 24 percent to 56 percent with the average being 39 percent. Knowledge of what factors determine successful completion in the nursing programs aid in improving our attribution rate, in preventing waste of the students’ time and in preventing emotional traumas to the students when they are unsuccessful in the program. Knowledge of what qualities make for success in nursing would help counselors in guiding students toward an occupation which will be satisfying and rewarding to them.

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