Abstract
The primary aim of this review was to complete a concept analysis of a thriving nursing student. The overall goal was to produce a new, more holistic definition of a thriving nursing student instead of a successful nursing student.
With the current nursing shortage, many nursing programs are focused on retention and the success of their graduates (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2023). This has shifted focus not just on success as an end-product, but early identification of at-risk students and methods to help them achieve academic achievement (Williams & Dahan, 2022). Because of this shift, the current definition of a successful student is no longer appropriate as it only provides a narrow view of success and simply looks at the end-product (a successful graduate of the program). A new definition of a thriving student is needed. The concept of a thriving student can help educators identify those at-risk early, is adaptable and appropriate as students traverse the many transitions of a nursing program, and includes a focus on mental health and well-being instead of simply gauging academic achievements.
A comprehensive review of the literature was completed using CINHAL and PubMed databases, as well as grey literature. Search terms included (nursing student success OR thriving) AND (student success or academic achievement or academic performance or academic success or student retention) AND (nursing education AND success OR thriving) AND (college student success OR thriving). A combination of Walker & Avant and Chinn & Kramer systematic concept analysis approaches was used for this review.
The search resulted in 57 articles that met inclusion criteria. Of those 57 articles, 29 were included in this review. Three defining attributes were identified: academic success, clinical success, and psychological well-being. The antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents are also highlighted and discussed in this article.
Upon examining the definition of a successful nursing student considering the NGN, employer expectations, the transitions a student undergoes, and a post-COVID-19 healthcare system, the current definition proves to be inadequate for current nursing students. The concept of a thriving nursing student can help educators identify those at-risk early, is adaptable and appropriate as students traverse the transition of a nursing program and includes a focus on mental health and well-being instead of simply academic achievements.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Iota Omega
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Curriculum Development, Teaching and Learning Strategies, Theory, Nursing Education, Advances in Education, Successful Students, Thriving Students, Academic Success, Clinical Success, Well-being
Recommended Citation
Chavez, Laura Skoronski, "Thriving Not Surviving: A Thriving Nursing Student Concept Analysis" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 201.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/201
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
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
2025-12-08
Thriving Not Surviving: A Thriving Nursing Student Concept Analysis
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
The primary aim of this review was to complete a concept analysis of a thriving nursing student. The overall goal was to produce a new, more holistic definition of a thriving nursing student instead of a successful nursing student.
With the current nursing shortage, many nursing programs are focused on retention and the success of their graduates (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2023). This has shifted focus not just on success as an end-product, but early identification of at-risk students and methods to help them achieve academic achievement (Williams & Dahan, 2022). Because of this shift, the current definition of a successful student is no longer appropriate as it only provides a narrow view of success and simply looks at the end-product (a successful graduate of the program). A new definition of a thriving student is needed. The concept of a thriving student can help educators identify those at-risk early, is adaptable and appropriate as students traverse the many transitions of a nursing program, and includes a focus on mental health and well-being instead of simply gauging academic achievements.
A comprehensive review of the literature was completed using CINHAL and PubMed databases, as well as grey literature. Search terms included (nursing student success OR thriving) AND (student success or academic achievement or academic performance or academic success or student retention) AND (nursing education AND success OR thriving) AND (college student success OR thriving). A combination of Walker & Avant and Chinn & Kramer systematic concept analysis approaches was used for this review.
The search resulted in 57 articles that met inclusion criteria. Of those 57 articles, 29 were included in this review. Three defining attributes were identified: academic success, clinical success, and psychological well-being. The antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents are also highlighted and discussed in this article.
Upon examining the definition of a successful nursing student considering the NGN, employer expectations, the transitions a student undergoes, and a post-COVID-19 healthcare system, the current definition proves to be inadequate for current nursing students. The concept of a thriving nursing student can help educators identify those at-risk early, is adaptable and appropriate as students traverse the transition of a nursing program and includes a focus on mental health and well-being instead of simply academic achievements.
Description
The current definition of a successful nursing student is no longer appropriate and provides a narrow view of success by only looking at the end-product (a successful graduate of the program). The concept of a thriving student can help educators identify those at-risk, is adaptable as students traverse transitions, and includes a focus on mental health. The concept of a thriving nursing student includes 3 key attributes: academic success, clinical success, and psychological well-being.