Degree Name
Nursing Practice, DNP
Publication Date
2025
Upload Date
4-30-2025
First Advisor
Sandy King
Second Advisor
Kristie Givens
Abstract
Nursing programs continue to struggle with high attrition rates, which impact student success, program outcomes, and the development of a competent nursing workforce. National data show that associate degree nursing programs report attrition rates as high as 50% in the first year, highlighting the urgency for more effective admission strategies. The problem addressed in this quality improvement project was the use of traditional academic metrics, such as grade point average (GPA) and standardized test scores, as primary admission criteria, which often overlook essential non-cognitive attributes linked to student persistence and success. The purpose of the project was to improve faculty knowledge and self-efficacy by using a standardized Holistic Admission Rubric (HAR) to guide the selection of well-rounded nursing applicants. This topic aligns with the growing awareness in nursing education that a student’s background, life experience, and character traits matter just as much as academic performance when predicting program completion. The method involved structured faculty training, guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model. Pre- and post-intervention surveys were used to evaluate changes in faculty learning across cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. The results indicated a significant increase in faculty self-efficacy and consistency in applying a holistic, evidence-based tool for applicant selection. The significance of this project lies in its potential to reduce attrition by supporting more informed, equitable admission decisions and advancing a nursing workforce reflective of the communities it serves.
Keywords: nursing, attrition, holistic, admissions, criteria
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Bray, Jennifer M., "Enhancing Faculty Confidence and Candidate Selection: Evaluation of a Standardized Holistic Interview Rubric in Nursing Program Admission" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 112.
https://arch.astate.edu/dnp-projects/112
