A Study of Leadership Factors, Retention Strategies, and Retention Rates in Associate Degree Nursing Programs

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Arthurs, J. (2009). A Study of Leadership Factors, Retention Strategies, and Retention Rates in Associate Degree Nursing Programs. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine transformational leadership practices of Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) directors, the relationship to student retention rates, and retention strategies used. The Leadership Practices Inventory-Self (LPI-Self) was used to measure the five practices of Kouzes and Posner's transformational leadership model: modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging the heart. Forty-nine ADN directors completed the LPI-Self with most participants reporting high to moderate scores. Directors most frequently reported behaviors related to enabling others to act. The lowest mean score was in inspiring a shared vision while the highest percentage of low scores was in challenging the process. A standard multiple regression was conducted to predict student retention rates from scores on the five leadership practices. Data analysis revealed no statistically significant relationship. Qualitative data revealed several themes regarding the use of strategies to enhance ADN student success: selective admission criteria, academic assistance, remediation, faculty-student interaction, and college resources. Directors from the top ten programs with the highest retention rates emphasized the importance of faculty-student relationships. Administrators from the ten programs with lowest retention rates reported using college resources to assist students more often than respondents from programs with high retention. Findings suggest faculty interaction with students may be more effective in retaining nursing students than using college support services. Implications for nursing education and recommendations for further study are discussed.

Details
Author

Arthurs, Janet

Title

A Study of Leadership Factors, Retention Strategies, and Retention Rates in Associate Degree Nursing Programs

Physical Description

1 online resource (130 pages) : PDF

Date

2009

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine transformational leadership practices of Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) directors, the relationship to student retention rates, and retention strategies used. The Leadership Practices Inventory-Self (LPI-Self) was used to measure the five practices of Kouzes and Posner's transformational leadership model: modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging the heart. Forty-nine ADN directors completed the LPI-Self with most participants reporting high to moderate scores. Directors most frequently reported behaviors related to enabling others to act. The lowest mean score was in inspiring a shared vision while the highest percentage of low scores was in challenging the process. A standard multiple regression was conducted to predict student retention rates from scores on the five leadership practices. Data analysis revealed no statistically significant relationship. Qualitative data revealed several themes regarding the use of strategies to enhance ADN student success: selective admission criteria, academic assistance, remediation, faculty-student interaction, and college resources. Directors from the top ten programs with the highest retention rates emphasized the importance of faculty-student relationships. Administrators from the ten programs with lowest retention rates reported using college resources to assist students more often than respondents from programs with high retention. Findings suggest faculty interaction with students may be more effective in retaining nursing students than using college support services. Implications for nursing education and recommendations for further study are discussed.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Nursing
Community colleges--Study and teaching
School management and organization

Degree

D.Ed.

Keywords

Associate Degree Nursing
Leadership
Nursing Student
Retention

Subject Area

Educational Leadership

Advisor(s)

Flowers, Claudia

Committee Members

Algozzine, Robert
Lock, Corey
Morris, Tama

Degree Note

Thesis (D.Ed.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2009.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Arthurs_uncc_0694D_10027

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:459