Predictors of Academic Success in First Semester Nursing Students

Authors

  • Cristina Dumitrescu School of Health and Natural Sciences, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, USA
  • Lori Kupczynski College of Health Sciences, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, St. Augustine FL, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3645-5328
  • Marc Campo School of Health and Natural Sciences, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24297/jssr.v19i.9399

Keywords:

Nursing students, introductory courses, student self-efficacy, self esteem

Abstract

The anticipated nursing shortage requires a closer look at academic predictors of success for first-year nursing students. Literature shows that there is a significant shortage of students graduating from nursing programs to replace the nurses leaving the workforce. This study examined whether self-efficacy and self-esteem predict student success for first-year baccalaureate nursing students taking an introductory science course: Biology for Science Majors (BIO 130). Understanding the relationships between self-efficacy, self-esteem, and the end-of-course grade to measure academic success can inform future student success programming for undergraduate nursing students. The study used a correlation design to determine relationships between students’ self-efficacy, self-esteem, and academic success. The independent variables were self-efficacy and self-esteem. The dependent variable was student academic success measured by students’ final course grades. Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis indicated a weak relationship between scores on the General-Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) and final course grades. Similarly, a weak relationship was found between scores on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the final course grades. This finding remained consistent when controlling for each independent variable.

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Author Biographies

Cristina Dumitrescu, School of Health and Natural Sciences, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, USA

 

 

 

 

Lori Kupczynski, College of Health Sciences, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, St. Augustine FL, USA

 

 

 

Marc Campo, School of Health and Natural Sciences, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, USA

 

 

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Published

2023-03-28

How to Cite

Dumitrescu, C., Kupczynski, L., & Campo, M. (2023). Predictors of Academic Success in First Semester Nursing Students. JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH, 19, 67–74. https://doi.org/10.24297/jssr.v19i.9399

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