Assessment of readiness of candidates to undertake studies of the 1st degree at the nursing department

Introduction. Admission criteria should accurately assess competences that are of value when undertaking studies and that can lower the proportion of failures among those studying.

Aim. The aim of the work was an analysis of the readiness of candidates to undertake studies of the 1st degree at the Nursing department at the Medical University of Warsaw (MUW).

Material and methods. The study involved a total of 887 students of the Nursing department who undertook full-time studies of the 1st degree at the Faculty of Health Sciences MUW. Predictive analysis was performed using the method of multiple regression applying seven predictors: gender, age on entry, place of completing secondary school and the type of secondary-school final examination, and three criteria applied during the admission process for university: the result of the matriculation exam in Polish, a foreign language, and an additional subject (biology, chemistry, mathematics, geography, or civics). Depending on the tested model, the grade point average (GPA) was used as one of the four variables, achieved after the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year of studies together with cumulative GPA.

Results. Each of the applied three selection criteria was a significantly successful predictor, both in a short- and long-term prognosis (beta_stand. between 0.312 and 0.417). Candidates writing the “new” matriculation achieved considerably worse results than those who took the “old” matriculation (beta_stand. between –0.110 and –0.153). Moreover, it was observed that men have relatively slim chances of success during studies compared to women (bstand. between –0.077 and –0.118).

Conclusions. The degree of candidates’ preparation for studies of the 1st degree at the Nursing Department is sufficient. The admission criteria applied so far have shown a sufficient level of predictive validity; however, improving the admission system may lower the percentage of failures among the students of nursing.

Nursing Topics 2015; 23 (2): 208–213