No Scrubs: A Study of Nursing Applicant Trajectories after Rejection

• In Event: Identity, Efficacy, and Trajectory: Explorations Across the Professions

Abstract

Nursing is a highly demanded field of study, but qualified applicants are often denied admission due to capacity limitations. This exploratory quantitative study drew on theories of attrition, rejection, and Social Cognitive Career Theory (Lent et al., 1994) to understand the trajectories of rejected nursing applicants at an urban community college. Data examined included application submissions, enrollment records of rejected applicants (n=681), and a survey of post-rejection college and career decisions. Findings highlight demographic differences in acceptance, reapplication decisions, course-taking behaviors, and college persistence. Reapplicants differed on measures of self-efficacy, perceived barriers, and social support. We discuss implications for how higher education institutions can utilize resources to encourage reapplication, support careers in health sciences, and improve application processes.

Author

• Jennifer A. Torgerson, College of Southern Nevada