Delivering a transition programme in literacy from level 4 to level 5 for nursing students: a pilot study

This paper explores the development, delivery and evaluation of a pilot programme in academic literacy skills to help students make the transition from year 1of their undergraduate nursing programme (level 4) to year 2 (level 5). Although there is a good deal of literature available about supporting students in year 1 to develop academic literacy skills, there is a dearth of literature on supporting students as they move from level to level during their university programmes. The pilot programme comprised five 1½ hr sessions on different aspects of literacy skills in the transition period between year 1 and year 2. Students from one cohort were invited to participate on a voluntary basis. Students undertook a pre-test before starting the programme and a post-test at the end. However, only a small number chose to sit the post-test making comparative analysis impossible. However, results of the student questionnaires showed that student confidence in their literacy skills increased and their perceptions of their literacy skills were that they were improved as a result of the programme. Importantly, marks on semester 2 written assignments were improved compared with year 1 work for those who had attended the programme. This study is important for both the progression of students from year 1 to year 2 of their nursing programme and for their ability to develop the kinds of literacy skills required for nursing practice