Dual Collegiate Roles—The Lived Experience of Nursing Student Athletes

Abstract

Background: Teamwork and communication, characteristics learned through playing college sports, can precipitate a sense of wonder in the lived experiences of nursing students who played a college sport. Method: A phenomenological study was conducted to understand the meaning of the collegiate roles of the nursing student and the student athlete. These roles carry different sets of responsibilities, social contacts, and physical and emotional demands. Thirteen practicing nurses who played a college sport during their nursing program were interviewed. Results: Data analysis revealed four essential themes that described the meaning of their experience: athletic identity, perseverance, advocates and adversaries, and belongingness. Results suggest participation in college sports creates a sense of belonging that assists in the transition into college. Conclusion: Although nursing students may be deterred from coordinating academics and athletics, this study indicates it is possible and may even have benefits, both academically and during students’ transition into practice. [J Nurs Educ. 2022;61(3):117–122.]