Other Titles
Rapid Presentation Round
Abstract
Student success in college is judged by retention and graduation rates (Millea et al., 2018). Nursing student retention and attrition are identified as ongoing areas of international concern. Academic failure is known to impact students, their families, the institutions, and the greater communities in relation to the overall nursing shortage (Brown et al., 2020). Nursing students that do not progress affect the present nursing shortage since the failure leaves an opening that is then not filled (Cross & Rogers, 2022). For those institutions that may have a direct relationship with a health system, students who do not progress have an even bigger impact on the nursing shortage. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of a coaching program on student retention and pass rates in an associate degree nursing program. These findings may help determine the value of a coaching program in the school of nursing and may inform future programs in other schools at the study college.
Research Questions:
- Is there a difference in course pass rates and program retention rates of associate degree RN students before and after participating in an academic success coaching program?
- Is there a difference in program retention rates among associate degree RN students before and after participating in an academic success coaching program?
- Is there a difference in course pass rates among associate degree RN students before and after participating in an academic success coaching program based on group demographics?
Methods: Data was collected retrospectively. Students who met the inclusionary criteria were selected to enter an Academic Success Coaching Program. Participants were given a learning style test to complete before the initial meeting with the Academic Success coach. Students met weekly or biweekly with a coach and meetings were tailored to student needs. Course pass rates and retention were examined before and after the intervention.
Outcomes: Course pass rates will increase, retention rates will increase, and the Academic Success Coaching Program will be implemented in all programs. Additionally, the number of nursing graduates will increase and improve nurse recruitment in the health system.
Method: This study uses a pre-experimental within-group pre-test-posttest design. Course pass rates and retention rates will be examined before and after the intervention. Participants will be selected from a purposive sample of individuals that are enrolled in an associate degree nursing program and meet certain criteria.
Discussion and Conclusions: Upon completion, the outcome of this study may demonstrate how an effective academic coaching program can improve retention rates in associate degree nursing students.
Notes
References:
Brown, J., McDonald, M., Besse, C., Manson, P., McDonald, R., Rohatinsky, N., & Singh, M. (2021). Nursing students’ academic success factors a quantitative cross-sectional study. Nurse Educator, 46(2), E23-E27. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000000882
Cross, S. & Rogers, J. (2022, June, July, & August). Bridge to success: Implementation of a Dedicated nursing student retention program. Kentucky Nurse, 24-25. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000000740
Millea, M., Wills, R., Elder, A., & Molina, D. (2018). What matters in college student success? Determinants of college retention and graduation rates. Education, 138(4), 309-322. https://web-p-ebscohost-com.proxy.lib.odu/ehost.pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=d3a6e9ab-e6a7- 498f-a093-3310f320c886%40redis
Sigma Membership
Epsilon Chi
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Associate Degree Nursing Education, Student Retention, Mentorship, Coaching
Recommended Citation
Dryden, Angela J., "The Impact of a Coaching Program on Student Retention in an Associate Degree Nursing Program" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 18.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2024/presentations_2024/18
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2024
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-02-12
The Impact of a Coaching Program on Student Retention in an Associate Degree Nursing Program
Washington, DC, USA
Student success in college is judged by retention and graduation rates (Millea et al., 2018). Nursing student retention and attrition are identified as ongoing areas of international concern. Academic failure is known to impact students, their families, the institutions, and the greater communities in relation to the overall nursing shortage (Brown et al., 2020). Nursing students that do not progress affect the present nursing shortage since the failure leaves an opening that is then not filled (Cross & Rogers, 2022). For those institutions that may have a direct relationship with a health system, students who do not progress have an even bigger impact on the nursing shortage. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of a coaching program on student retention and pass rates in an associate degree nursing program. These findings may help determine the value of a coaching program in the school of nursing and may inform future programs in other schools at the study college.
Research Questions:
- Is there a difference in course pass rates and program retention rates of associate degree RN students before and after participating in an academic success coaching program?
- Is there a difference in program retention rates among associate degree RN students before and after participating in an academic success coaching program?
- Is there a difference in course pass rates among associate degree RN students before and after participating in an academic success coaching program based on group demographics?
Methods: Data was collected retrospectively. Students who met the inclusionary criteria were selected to enter an Academic Success Coaching Program. Participants were given a learning style test to complete before the initial meeting with the Academic Success coach. Students met weekly or biweekly with a coach and meetings were tailored to student needs. Course pass rates and retention were examined before and after the intervention.
Outcomes: Course pass rates will increase, retention rates will increase, and the Academic Success Coaching Program will be implemented in all programs. Additionally, the number of nursing graduates will increase and improve nurse recruitment in the health system.
Method: This study uses a pre-experimental within-group pre-test-posttest design. Course pass rates and retention rates will be examined before and after the intervention. Participants will be selected from a purposive sample of individuals that are enrolled in an associate degree nursing program and meet certain criteria.
Discussion and Conclusions: Upon completion, the outcome of this study may demonstrate how an effective academic coaching program can improve retention rates in associate degree nursing students.
Description
A review of an Academic Success Coaching program for associate degree nursing students and examining the impact the program had on student retention and course pass rates.