e. emotional status, peer relationships, preparation for the RN program, student/teacher relationships and attitudes of co-workers.). In fact the researcher found that all of the students were able to integrate well into the program as well as the social setting of the school, regardless of their minority status.
Those students who did struggle blamed their problems on a lack of emotional support, time management problems other non-race related variables. In addition, both minority and non-minority students experienced feelings of jealousy from their co-workers who were envious of the fact that the student was advancing his or her career. There were also some difficulties found relating to the nursing skills lab, and certain writing assignments, however these did not appear to be racially influenced either.
Implications for Practice
This study demonstrated that racial barriers are being broken down to the point that student success or failure does not necessarily have to be equated with issues of ethnicity. There are numerous barriers to success in an educational program which could be interpreted as race related if that were the researcher's agenda. However, seen at face value, the primary concerns are with the student's own personal...
However, rather than stretch the findings to fit the thesis, as some researchers have been known to do, this author reported the findings in an accurate an unbiased manner. To me, this is a sign of honesty and integrity that all leaders should possess.
Conclusions
This research study ended up revealing information other than what was originally intended, however that is not necessarily a bad thing. By determining that factors that were not related to race were causing more barriers to the students' success in the program than barriers that were related to race, the study showed that race is becoming less of an inhibitive factor in the educational setting.
References
Henle, S.A. (2007) the barriers encountered and the factors that contribute to the success of the minority and non-minority licensed practical nurses in a two-year associate degree registered nursing program, (Doctoral Dissertation) Dowling College, Oakdale, NY. UMI Number: 3295361
