Predictors of underrepresented nursing students’ school satisfaction, success, and future education intent

Background: The United States is steadily becoming more diverse. If current trends continue, the minority population will be the majority by 2043. In contrast to the U.S. population, nursing (the largest health care workforce) is composed of a nearly 76% White population. The literature reports that underrepresented minorities (URM) in nursing programs encounter multiple barriers to academic success. Method: A secondary data analysis of a national cohort of URM accelerated nursing students was conducted to examine three factors associated with microaggression— predictors of academic (NCLEX) success, satisfaction, and intent to pursue advanced education—among a cohort of URM accelerated nursing students who had received a national diversity scholarship (n = 2,250). Results: These three factors were predicted by institutional climate, mentoring, social interactions, the prematriculation preparation program, and other psychological, social, and cultural barriers. Conclusion: To increase nursing diversity and ensure a culturally competent profession, programs must attend to these factors.