Putting the 'Mission' in Admission: Holistic Review for Baccalaureate Nursing Students

Nursing school admission is competitive, and the School of Nursing has traditionally relied on GPA as a primary measure of student fit. While students with high GPAs can usually be successful academically, this measure does not capture other skills necessary for success as a nurse, (i.e., communication, maturity, grit, resilience, perseverance, and professionalism). GPA as a primary measure may exclude certain populations who have the necessary skills needed to be successful.

We piloted a more holistic admission process to improve diversity and inclusion within the undergraduate student population. For the Spring 2021 admission cycle, we added the TEAS exam score and a carousel interview process that included a formal behavioral interview, a group problem-solving task, assessment of interpersonal communication skills, and a short essay on diversity and inclusion.

We analyzed student satisfaction surveys and scoring data to learn whether this holistic admission process resulted in a change in the number of diverse students admitted to the nursing program and what strategies we can implement in the future. Throughout this process, we learned more about holistic review, the importance of aligning admission goals with the Mission of the University, and we learned lessons that will guide future admission cycles.

Cynthia Aurentz
DNP, MSN, CNE
Assistant Director, School of Nursing
Missouri State University

Biography

Dr. Aurentz has been a nurse educator for 10 years. Her teaching experience includes research and evidence-based practice, leadership, ethics, and scholarly project development. Scholarly work includes "A Practice-Education Partnership to Enhance Nursing Student Engagement in Clinical Learning" (2018); "Practice Authority Waivers During COVID-19: Missouri APRN Response" (2020); "Implementing Trauma-Informed Care Into the Nursing Curriculum" (2021); and "Putting the Mission in Admission: Holistic Review of Baccalaureate Students" (2021). Her interest in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion supports and compliments her work in Trauma-informed Care. Her interest arose from her work as a member of the executive board of the Child Advocacy Center in her community and as Vice President of Communication on the Executive Board of the Missouri Nurses Association. Dr. Aurentz has multiple publications in the "Missouri Nurse".

Phone: 417-836-5310
Email: cynthia120@missouristate.edu

Co-Author(s):
Kathryn Patterson, DNP, FNP-BC