Cultivation of Grit in Nursing Students: A Qualitative Descriptive Study “Cultivation of Grit”

Abstract

Background: Predicted nursing deficits and low nursing student retention rates highlighted the need to investigate cultivation of grit, a malleable trait involving perseverance and passion to achieve long-term goals amidst challenges and difficulties. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify how cultivation of grit and additional academic and non-academic strategies aided gritty second-year associate degree-seeking nursing students in addressing nursing program challenges and completing their nursing program. Methods: Twenty-two second-year associate degree-seeking nursing students in rural central Arizona completed demographic and Grit-O Scale questions using Survey Monkey™ and participated in semi-structured interviews or focus group discussions held from September through December 2022. Research questions provided study foundation: RQ1: How do second-year nursing students with high levels of self-perceived grit of greater than 3.5 out of 5 as measured on the Grit-O Scale describe how grit was cultivated during their associate degree-seeking nursing program? RQ2: How do second-year nursing students with high levels of self-perceived grit describe how additional academic and non-academic strategies added to them in dealing with the challenges of their associate degree-seeking nursing program? Design: Qualitative Descriptive Research Results: Inductive thematic analysis revealed six themes: importance of perseverance and passion, facets of grit; identification of program challenges and strategies used to deal with challenges; and the significance of support from nursing cohort, family, and friends, and nursing instructors. Conclusions: Effective strategies for participating nursing student retention and program completion involved cultivation of grit and its facets of perseverance and passion and additional academic and non-academic strategies of nursing cohort and instructor support aided students in dealing with challenges faced during their associate degree-seeking nursing program at a rural, central Arizonan community college.