Resources to Reduce Attrition and Build Stronger Cohorts
A collection of white papers, scholarly research, recorded conversations, and practical tools for nurse educators and admissions leaders. The resources below cover the evidence behind readiness-based admissions, the drivers of attrition, and how programs can improve persistence and progression outcomes.
Featured Resources
Attributes Stability White Paper
Are traits like grit and resilience malleable during nursing school, or largely set by the time of admission? This white paper explores why measuring these beyond-cognitive attributes early is critical to building stronger cohorts.
Nursing Shortage White Paper
Is the nursing shortage about pre-licensure capacity or attrition? This white paper uncovers why throughput, not seat capacity, is the hidden driver of attrition, and how evidence-based admissions can improve retention.
Faculty Burnout Starts at Admissions
Burnout isn’t just about workload. When admissions misalign, faculty are left carrying the burden of remediation and emotional triage. Learn how better applicant selection can ease the load.
Conversation: Rethinking At-Risk Students
Replay the KeithRN Live discussion with Dr. Eleonor Pusey-Reid and Level Assessments, focused on admissions as the antecedent of student risk and the path to a culture of success.
Research Library
Student nurse attrition is one of the most pressing issues in nursing education, and it isn’t explained by academics alone. Research consistently shows that attributes such as grit, resilience, and self-efficacy are critical to persistence and program completion. Explore highlights below, or view the full library on The Evidence Base.
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Grit, Academic Resilience, and Mindset of Nursing Students
Summary: Demonstrates that non-cognitive traits are directly correlated with clinical success and persistence in nursing education. Read the full article here.
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It’s Not All Academic: Predictors of Nursing Student Success
Summary: Demonstrates that readiness attributes including motivation, emotional regulation, and self-efficacy are meaningful predictors of persistence alongside academic measures. Read the full article here.
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Student Nurse Attrition: A Review of Why Students Leave
Summary: Identifies non-academic factors such as stress, lack of support, and resilience as leading contributors to early withdrawal from nursing programs. Read the full article here.
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Creating a Culture of Success: A Framework for Addressing At-Risk Students – Eleonor Pusey-Reid
Summary: Highlights that risk does not begin when a student struggles in class; it has antecedents at admissions. Attributes such as grit, self-efficacy, and goal orientation are largely codified by program entry, making early measurement essential to supporting at-risk students. Watch our conversation here.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S42oxfAF8GA&t=4shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S42oxfAF8GA&t=4s