Online Learning in Undergraduate Nursing Education: Screening for E-learning Readiness as a Predictor of Engagement and Academic Achievement

There are numerous advantages to a bachelors degree in nursing. Bachelor-trained nurses report increased levels of job satisfaction due to a greater sense of autonomy and more diverse career opportunities. Furthermore, hospitals with higher numbers of nurses with a bachelors degree have lower rates of patient complications, reduced lengths-of-stay and fewer patient deaths. Currently, less than 50% of all nurses in Quebec hold a bachelors degree and Quebec is the only Canadian province which does not require a bachelors degree as the minimum education to practice. The Ingram School of Nursing (ISoN) has been offering the Bachelor of Nursing (Integrated) (BNI) Program for students with a Quebec CEGEP diploma in nursing since 2004 in an on-campus format. In the fall of 2021, an online version of this program was launched to improve accessibility and flexibility for those wishing to pursue their undergraduate nursing education. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the challenges some students face with online learning. The proposed research project aims to determine the characteristics of students that predict success and satisfaction with the chosen stream (online vs. in-person). Existing data on characteristics, 1st year course grades, and reported levels of satisfaction from second-year students in both streams will be analyzed. Group interviews will also be conducted with students in both streams. Based on the results, an assessment tool will be developed to help future applicants determine which mode of learning is best suited to their unique needs. Ultimately, findings from this research may help inform strategies to increase the number of bachelor-trained nurses leading to improved nurse satisfaction and better patient outcomes.