Perceptions of Campus Climate on Program Satisfaction for Accelerated Nursing Students

Background: Nationwide, schools of nursing have recognized the significance of increasing their diversity but continue to be challenged with recruitment and retention of historically underrepresented students. In 2008, the New Careers in Nursing program was implemented to alleviate the shortage and increase nursing diversity. Method: Secondary analysis of a subsample of participants was used to investigate how campus climate affected program satisfaction of accelerated nursing students of color. Specific objectives included exploring social supports such as interpersonal interactions and experiences with faculty and peers. Results: Those who self-identified with an underrepresented group were more likely to feel uncomfortable with those whose race/ethnicity was different from their own, more likely to report hearing racists or stereotypical remarks in school, and less likely to have a supportive group of friends on campus. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed significant relationships between campus climate variables that included peer and faculty interactions. These results are relevant to all nursing programs seeking to create a more welcoming environment within their campus community.