“I want to be a nurse!”: A Qualitative Descriptive Study on the Impact of an "Introduction to Nursing" Course

Recruitment of nursing students is not the issue. Each year, nursing programs across the country turn away highly qualified applicants due to faculty shortage and limited clinical space. Therefore, it is imperative to retain those who secure one of these valuable spots as a nursing student. An “Introduction to Nursing” course was offered to pre-nursing freshman at one university for the purposes of increasing nursing student retention, rather than recruitment. This study examined the impact of an “Introduction to Nursing” course from a qualitative descriptive perspective. Participants reported three themes: orienting, connecting, and validating that occurred as a result of taking this course. Results indicate that both the student and the nursing program benefit as a result of offering this course. Students are provided with a realistic perspective of the nursing program and profession while the nursing program admits more informed students with less potential for voluntary attrition.