Presently the Douglas College General Nursing Program screens its applicants with the Nelson-Denny Reading Test and the Stanford Diagnostic Math Test in the belief that those tests set appropiate standards for admission to the program. No research had been performed to validate this belief. This descriptive, exploratory study examined the available data to determine the influence of the screening tests on academic achievement. Since the literature documents the influence of demographic variables on academic achievement in nursing programs, the students' ages were also included in this study. The students' scores on the screening tests, and the students' ages, were correlated with their scores on six nursing academic scores in the first two semesters in the program. Canonical correlation analysis was performed on the same data to see if insight could be obtained about the interrelationships of the screening tests, the students ages, and academic achievement. The Pearson r correlations indicate that the influence of the screening tests was small to moderate on academic achievement in the individual courses, and that students' ages demonstrated the weakest correlation. Sub-test 3 of the Stanford Diagnostic Math test consistently correlated the highest with the academic course scores with only two exceptions, and in those cases it was the second highest correlate. The canonical correlation analysis demonstrates that there are two underlying linkages or dimensions between the two data sets. The first dimension demonstrates the dominance of the Stanford Diagnostic Math sub-tests in correlating with academic achievement. The second dimension is too weak to make assumptions about the relationship between the two data sets, but it does suggest that the students' ages influence academic achievement. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

The problem examined in this study was the relationship between the SAT and NLN-PNG scores and success rate on SBTPE. This predictive study utilized an ex post facto approach. This investigator obtained administrative permission to utilize the data from the files at this diploma school of nursing. The convenience method of nonprobability sampling included the scores of graduates in the years 1977 through 1981. Pearson correlation coefficients were computed for the predictor variables with each of the five SBTPE and the mean, indicating a moderate positive linear relationship. Correlation coefficients and simple regression analysis indicated that the SAT combined score and NLN-PNG combined score was somewhat of a predictive measure of SBTPE success at the time of admission to the program, while the multiple regression analysis indicated that a better combination of predictor variables for SBTPE success was the SAT combined score and the NLN-PNG composite score.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the relationship between achievement in specific nursing courses and subsequent performance on the NCLEX-RN of students identified as at-risk. A sample of 236 graduates from a baccalaureate degree nursing program in a large midwestern university were divided into two groups, students at-risk and students not-at-risk. Answers to six research questions were sought. Multivariate and univariate analyses of variance and two-tailed t tests at the .05 level of significance were utilized to test the data.Findings indicated that: (1) There was a significant difference in the performance in the first two major nursing courses between not-at-risk students and at-risk students with not-at-risk students scoring higher. (2) There was no significant difference between the grades received by at-risk students with transfer credit and at-risk students without transfer credit in the first two major nursing courses. (3) There was a significant difference in the performance in the first two major nursing courses with not-at-risk students with transfer credit achieving higher grades than not-at-risk students without transfer credit. (4) There was a significant difference in the NCLEX-RN scores between the two groups, with not-at-risk students scoring higher than at-risk students. (5) There was no significant difference in the scores on the NCLEX-RN between the two groups, at-risk students without transfer credit and at-risk students with transfer credit. (6) Not-at-risk students with transfer credit scored significantly higher on the NCLEX-RN than not-at-risk students without transfer credit. / Department of Educational Leadership

This study explored the feasibility of predicting academic achievement in prerequisite Anatomy-Physiology Classes for prospective nursing students and Medical Surgical Nursing Classes for students enrolled in a diploma program. This was accomplished by using three instruments that measure the attitudes of nursing students about the nursing profession or preferences towards learning environments . The purposes of this study were (1) to determine if the subgroup or total scores were correlated with final examination scores for each class, (2) to determine if the subgroup or total scores interacted with one another to increase the power of prediction, and (3) to compare the effects of different teaching styles, upon the instruments used to measure attitudes and preferences

An increase in diarrhoea and upper respiratory tract infection has been noted for the past five years and this is associated with the prevalence of Human Immune-deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. HIV infection is an increasingly common cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in South Africa. In some areas of the country, like the Eastern Cape, more than 30 percent of the women attending antenatal clinics are HIV infected. Without intervention, approximately one third of the babies born to these HIV infected mothers will get infection from their mothers (WHO, 2003). Aim and Objectives of the study: The study was meant to assess the specific knowledge and skills of professional nurses at the primary health facilities regarding management and integration of childhood illnesses, evaluate the quality of training of professional nurses on aspects of IMCI including integration of HIV within IMCI programme for children under five years in Primary Health Care facilities in Mdantsane Township. Methods: A quantitative descriptive method was used for this study. The questionnaire developed by the researcher was used for data collection. The items on the questionnaire were divided into four (4) subsections. The questionnaire was administered to all professional nurses on duty and those available at the time of data collection. A checklist for IMCI was used to collect data from Road to Health files of children who were HIV positive admitted in the pediatric ward at Cecilia Makhiwane Hospital. Results: The results of this study for all the variables examined showed that the highest score was 56 percent and the lowest was18 percent.These results indicated that the knowledge and skills of professional nurses were inadequate.

The aim of this study was to determine the ability and proficiency of the newly qualified professional nurses in utilising psychiatric nursing skills at Chris Hani District Psychiatric Health Care Services in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The research method was a qualitative, phenomenological approach. A purposive sample of newly qualified professional nurses and supervisors participated in the study. The data were collected through interviews and focus group discussions, using semi – structured interview guides. Interviews responses were recorded on the interview guide. Data were analysed using the computer software Atlas ti and manually. Positive and negative themes were identified. Ethical considerations were ensured by means of privacy, anonymity and confidentiality. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of Fort Hare and permission from the Provincial Department of Health and Chris Hani District Health and Mental Health Institution at Queenstown was sought. The findings revealed that newly qualified professional nurses performed well, according to the perception of their supervisors. Newly qualified professional nurses were faced with challenges such as shortage of resources, mental illness not considered as a priority and lack of skills development. The study also revealed that newly qualified professional nurses focussed on the curative aspect of ailments, rather than preventive care. However community health workers (CHW) focussed on the preventive aspect of care. Limitations and recommendations based on the findings of the study are presented.

Within the nursing profession, the transition from the student to a graduate nurse is a common rite of passage that marks the end of initial educational preparation in the discipline and the beginning of a professional journey as a nurse and a member of the multidisciplinary team (Nash, Lemcke & Sacre. 2009:48). This is a period of adjustment, stress, growth and development and the transitional nurse is likely to feel uncomfortable, fearful and may experience feelings of inadequacy. This study was undertaken to explore and describe the experiences of final year nursing students at a public college of nursing in the Eastern Cape regarding their preparedness to become registered nurses, with the aim to identify gaps and make recommendations on strategies to close the gaps. The objectives were to explore and describe the experiences of final year nursing students at the public college of nursing in the Eastern Cape Province with regard to their preparedness to become registered nurses and to recommend strategies to improve the preparation of nursing students for transition to become registered nurses. To answer the research question “What are the experiences of final year nursing students at a public college of nursing in the Eastern Cape Province with regard their preparedness to become registered nurses”, a qualitative, explorative and descriptive design was used as a framework for the study. Data were collected by means of unstructured focus group interviews with a purposively selected sample of 27 final year nursing students at the particular college of nursing. Data were analysed using Tesch’s method of analysis for qualitative research. Two themes emerged, revealing that participants at the college experienced preparedness and lack of preparedness to assume the role of a professional nurse. This related to certain aspects that had an impact on the preparation of the final year nursing students for practice and included: curriculum-related aspects; clinical teaching and learning support; learning opportunities; interpersonal relationships between lecturers, students and clinical staff; equipment; and library resources. It was concluded that the learning needs of the nursing students were not adequately catered for, leading to lack of preparedness. Through the involvement of nursing students in the evaluation of their learning, shortfalls in both education and practice areas could therefore be detected. Recommendations regarding strategies to be used to promote preparedness of final year nursing students included: continuous feedback on student performance in the form of exit evaluations on the part of students to identify learning needs; writing of progress reports on the part of clinical practice; and the employment of clinical preceptors with clear role specifications between the lecturers, ward sisters and preceptors to avoid role confusion.

The focus of this study was to explore reasons for the failure of student nurses to present themselves for assessment of clinical skills at a public nursing college in the Eastern Cape. The objectives were to explore and describe reasons why these student nurses were not presenting themselves for such assessment of clinical skills; to develop strategies to motivate them to present themselves for clinical skills assessment; and to make recommendations for assessment of clinical skills. The population of the study was the second and the third-year student nurses undergoing a four-year comprehensive diploma course at a public college of nursing in the Eastern Cape. Non-probability convenience sampling was used. The research questions were, firstly, why the student nurses were not presenting themselves for assessment of clinical skills? Secondly, what recommendations could be made to motivate the student nurses to present themselves for clinical skills assessment? A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was used. Focus group interviews with six participants per group were used to collect data. The total number of participants five focus groups was 30 by the time data saturation was reached. Data were collected following the research question, “Why are you not presenting yourselves for clinical skill assessment?” Their responses were recorded using audiotape and notes with the help of an experienced colleague. Data was analysed following Teschʼs method. Findings presented one theme, being the reason for students not presenting themselves for feedback or delaying to do so. Categories indicated that students were afraid and overwhelmed with anxiety; had too much work to do; unpreparedness for learnt skills; equipment and resources; lack of confidence; and busy ward schedules. Subcategories included lecturersʼ attitude; unfamiliarity to lecturers accompanying them; having to study to master a lot of theory; having to prepare for many tests; unavailability of lecturers to mentor them; unavailability of unit professional nurses to guide them; reluctance of patients to be used for practising skills; a tendency not to practise skills; too many students; being used as work force; placement objectives; use of dolls for demonstration; tools used to support learning making reference to obsolete equipment; all skills demonstrated at the same time; lecturers improvising when they are demonstrating some skills, and not being released for practising of skills. The focus of this study was to explore reasons for the failure of student nurses to present themselves for assessment of clinical skills at a public nursing college in the Eastern Cape. The objectives were to explore and describe reasons why these student nurses were not presenting themselves for such assessment of clinical skills; to develop strategies to motivate them to present themselves for clinical skills assessment; and to make recommendations for assessment of clinical skills. The population of the study was the second and the third-year student nurses undergoing a four-year comprehensive diploma course at a public college of nursing in the Eastern Cape. Non-probability convenience sampling was used. The research questions were, firstly, why the student nurses were not presenting themselves for assessment of clinical skills? Secondly, what recommendations could be made to motivate the student nurses to present themselves for clinical skills assessment? A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was used. Focus group interviews with six participants per group were used to collect data. The total number of participants five focus groups was 30 by the time data saturation was reached. Data were collected following the research question, “Why are you not presenting yourselves for clinical skill assessment?” Their responses were recorded using audiotape and notes with the help of an experienced colleague. Data was analysed following Teschʼs method. Findings presented one theme, being the reason for students not presenting themselves for feedback or delaying to do so. Categories indicated that students were afraid and overwhelmed with anxiety; had too much work to do; unpreparedness for learnt skills; equipment and resources; lack of confidence; and busy ward schedules. Subcategories included lecturersʼ attitude; unfamiliarity to lecturers accompanying them; having to study to master a lot of theory; having to prepare for many tests; unavailability of lecturers to mentor them; unavailability of unit professional nurses to guide them; reluctance of patients to be used for practising skills; a tendency not to practise skills; too many students; being used as work force; placement objectives; use of dolls for demonstration; tools used to support learning making reference to obsolete equipment; all skills demonstrated at the same time; lecturers improvising when they are demonstrating some skills, and not being released for practising of skills. The researcher concluded that students had valid reasons for not presenting themselves for assessment of clinical skills but this could be rectified through the involvement of lectures, ward staff as well as students themselves. The researcher recommended that effective communication between the staff in clinical areas and the college is needed. Clinical laboratories needed laboratory managers and had to be well equipped. A revision of the student-lecturer ratio form feed-back on skills is also suggested.The researcher concluded that students had valid reasons for not presenting themselves for assessment of clinical skills but this could be rectified through the involvement of lectures, ward staff as well as students themselves. The researcher recommended that effective communication between the staff in clinical areas and the college is needed. Clinical laboratories needed laboratory managers and had to be well equipped. A revision of the student-lecturer ratio for feed-back on skills is also suggested.