Attrition in undergraduate nursing students

Abstract

Attrition is defined as discontinuation of an educational program before the student has successfully completed the requirements regardless of reason. Dropping out of school may have a negative impact on the student, their families, educational institutions, the nursing profession, and the health care system. In this integrative literature review, attrition in undergraduate nursing students is explored in comparison with the Nursing Undergraduate Retention and Success (NURS) model proposed by Marianne Jeffreys. The goal of the project is to understand attrition in undergraduate nursing students, learn about the NURS model, and to identify gaps in knowledge about attrition. From this foundation of knowledge, future studies will be developed to understand characteristics of particular groups of students and implement strategies to address the challenges of attrition.