Predicting Academic Progression for Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists

In order to foster academic progression and improve retention in nurse anesthesia programs, admission selection criteria require attention. With the escalating cost of graduate education coupled with the current economic crisis, efforts by educational leaders to minimize attrition remain pivotal. Selecting potential candidates who are most likely to succeed, aligned with data-driven evidence, offers the greatest potential for academic success for student registered nurse anesthetists. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine if a relationship existed between admission criteria (grade point average [GPA], science grade point average [SGPA], Graduate Record Examination scores, and critical care experience) and academic progression (current academic status and GPA). Key findings revealed that statistically significant relationships exist between the admission selection criteria and academic progression. Findings also indicated that a combination of the independent variables, specifically the GPA and SGPA, predict academic progression. Further research that includes examination of cognitive and noncognitive admission criteria may offer greater evidence predicting academic performance by student registered nurse anesthetists.