An Exploration of Providing Additional Support for Direct Entry Nursing Students

Abstract

Change can always be hard, especially the transition into a new role. Nursing students across the country struggle to make this transition from a high school to a college student. This struggle is evident with the direct entry nursing students at The College at Brockport. A select few students are chosen out of high school to be directly entered into the nursing program as a freshman. These students are just responsible for maintaining a 3.25 GPA and complete all the required prerequisites. If these students fulfill these requirements they automatically gain entry into the nursing program their junior year. These individuals who earn this privilege of direct entry into the competitive nursing program face great difficulty attending classes, living in the dorms, and socializing with students who are competing for a seat in the program. I explored the effectiveness of a mentor program for these individuals that modeled the mentor programs offered to new graduate nurses at hospitals.