A Correlational Study Of A Reading Comprehension Program And Attrition Rates Of ESL Nursing Students In Texas

Abstract

Decreasing the attrition rate of nursing students has become an important issue for programs in Texas as a means to alleviate the nursing shortage (THECB, 2009). Programs are admitting a more diverse group of students but attrition has historically been high among minority groups (Gilchrist & Rector, 2007). The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between English as a Second Language (ESL), a reading comprehension program, and attrition rates of nursing students. A secondary analysis of a large database which included nursing students from 27 initial licensure programs in Texas was completed. Jeffreys (2012) NURS model was used to guide the study. Analysis of the logistic regression model identified that ESL was not predictive of attrition when controlling for age, race, gender, ethnicity, and first generation college student. Further analysis of ESL students using logistic regression indicated that students who used a reading comprehension program were almost twice as likely to be off track of out of the program as ESL students who did not use it. Implications for nursing education include the need to evaluate student profile characteristics in a comprehensive way when determining students who are at risk of attrition. Replication of this study in other nursing student populations is recommended. Further research is also needed to evaluate interventions which could increase reading comprehension ability in ESL students.