Statewide At-Risk Tracking and Intervention for Nurses: Identifying and Intervening With Nursing Students at Risk of Attrition in Texas
AIM The purpose of this study was to identify students at risk of attrition and implement interventions to decrease the risk. BACKGROUND The ability to identify and intervene with students deemed at risk of attrition can be a valuable tool for increasing the RN workforce. “Statewide At-Risk Tracking and Interventions for Nurses” (SATIN) involved students from 27 initial RN licensure nursing programs in Texas. METHOD At-risk status of each nursing student was identified, and each nursing program provided interventions based on students' needs. RESULTS The Weaver Reading Program was the most effective of the six intervention strategies used with SATIN participants. Lack of utilization of the interventions was the number one limitation of the study. CONCLUSION Use of the Weaver Reading Program as well as personal engagement with students, one-on-one mentoring, and continued time investment are recommended to all programs.
A regional academic partnership for the early identification and retention of at-risk nursing students.
UNLABELLED
In a 2006 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board report (Increasing RN Graduates in Texas: A Report to the 79th Legislature), nursing programs in Texas were challenged to increase the number of graduates to deal with the nursing shortage. This article describes the East Texas region's efforts to identify and intervene in the nursing student attrition rates of participating partners nursing programs. The primary purpose of this study was to identify and intervene with students at risk for attrition. Nine nursing programs participated in the study.


METHODS
Online surveys were used to assess variables associated with attrition. Online interventions and an intensive test review protocol were used as intervention methods.


RESULTS
Across the nine nursing programs, 898 students participated in the study. Regression and categorical data analysis revealed that lack of reading comprehension was the best predictor of a student being off track or out of a nursing program (P < .0001). Two other highly predictive variables of attrition were entrance examination composite scores (P = .0271) and a student's grades in anatomy and physiology (P = .005). Grant intervention protocols were effective in reducing the attrition rate (P = .0002) between students who participated during the grant period and those prior to implementation of the grant.
Randi Weingarten, the American Federation of Teachers, and the Challenges of Policy Leadership in a Hostile Environment
Randi Weingarten is the president of the most vocal and influential teachers’ union, the American Federation of Teachers. Since rising through the ranks to AFT president in just two years, Weingarten is now a major, if not the most prominent, nongovernmental player in national education policy. She has earned deep respect from many educational policy actors. Likewise, Weingarten elicits withering criticism from others. This fascinating profile explains why, in such a brief period, she has proved to be a fierce, fearless, and effective leader under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Her experience offers invaluable lessons applicable for others working in similarly intense policy arenas.