Date
4-7-2026
Department
School of Nursing
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)
Chair
Robert Koch
Keywords
retention, attrition, preparedness, nursing student, HBCUs
Disciplines
Nursing
Recommended Citation
Wicker, Thomasena P., "Retention Factors Relating to the Success of Nursing Students at a Historically Black University: A Phenomenological Study" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8044.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8044
Abstract
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore experiences leading to the retention of nursing students of African descent in an undergraduate program at a historically Black university. The central research question that guided this study was what are the experiences of students of African descent who successfully progress through an undergraduate nursing program at a Historically Black College or University? Marianne Jeffreys’s Nursing Universal Retention and Success (NURS) model guided this study. The NURS model offered a multidimension framework for exploring factors that contribute to retention of nursing students. Participants included 10 nursing students from a single historically Black university located in the southeastern region of the United States. The participants consisted of three second-year, five third-year, and two fourth-year nursing students. Data were triangulated and collected using written narratives, individual interviews, and a focus group. Data were analyzed following Moustakas’ phenomenological method of analysis, and bracketing was maintained through reflexive practices. Four themes emerged: (a) culture of belonging and connection, (b) institutional processes, (c) integrated support and success, and (d) barriers to retention. Future studies should include exploration into the impact on retention of the nursing faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
