Exploration of the experiences of nursing students during remediation in a baccalaureate progra

There is a need to graduate a higher number of professional nurses. Remediation programs in nursing schools can create the support strategies necessary for students to be successful. Fostering this growth can ultimately assist these students so they can reach graduation. Limited studies have been conducted from the perspective of the nursing students in a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing programs. Based on the limited studies, a gap in the literature exists regarding the experiences of the nursing students themselves during the remediation process. The conceptual framework consisted of two learning theories utilized for the study. These theories were Knowles adult learning theory and Mezirow's transformational learning theory. A qualitative case study design was used to explore the experiences of students regarding the remediation techniques they received in a baccalaureate nursing program. Data was collected by using recorded semi-structured and structured interview questions. Eight graduated nursing students who successfully completed the remediation program were interviewed. The participants described their experiences with the remediation process. Two major themes were identified during the data analysis and included: positive experiences associated with remediation and support strategies that led to success. Two minor themes also surfaced from the analysis and included: current strategies should not change and negative experiences associated with remediation. The participants provided valuable new insights regarding the remediation of nursing students. Nursing educators can draw off this information when preparing curriculums for new remediation programs, or modifying the current remediation strategies being used to ultimately support the needs expressed by the participants. The implications for nursing education from the study findings entailed the need for baccalaureate nursing programs to include remediation in the curriculum to support students reach graduation. Several recommendations for future research included remediation in schools that offer an Associate Degree in Nursing, along with smaller institutions like community college nursing programs, a higher number of nursing students from different nursing schools, and adding participants from varied locations has the potential to add important information to the topic of remediation in nursing programs.