Publication Date

2006

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Holmes, Sharon L. (Professor of education)

Degree Name

Ed.D. (Doctor of Education)

Legacy Department

Department of Counseling, Adult and Higher Education

LCSH

African American nursing students--Illinois--Lake County

Abstract

Mounting concern exists on many levels regarding the escalating shortage of registered nurses nationwide. Simultaneously, another shortage exists that is likely to worsen over the next decade but is seldom discussed: the limited number of African American nurses. A major contributing factor to the shortage of African American nurses is students’ dismal completion rates from nursing programs, specifically two-year programs, in predominantly White institutions. Over the past few decades, literature, in general has suggested that the academic and social engagement of African American students in predominantly White institutions is impacted by unique cultural factors such as racism, isolation, and rejection. However, nursing literature remains limited in this particular area. For this reason, this qualitative study was undertaken to explore and understand what African American students report about their academic and social experiences in a predominantly White two-year nursing program and how these experiences influence their academic and social engagement. This study was conducted with 14 African American nursing students in a two-year community college nursing program. The primary data collection method used in the study was one-on-one interviews. Results from the study contributed to the development of a conceptual model integrating the core theme, saliency of race, and four primary themes—difference, coping and survival strategies, support systems, and the institutional context—as having significant influence on the academic and social experiences of African American nursing students in a two-year predominantly White nursing program and institution.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [241]-253).

Extent

xi, 274 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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