New Student Orientation and First Year Retention Rate of Associate Degree Nursing Students

This study was conducted to explore the relationship between a program-specific orientation program for associate degree nursing students and first semester course grades, retention, and persistence to graduation. Previous research of orientation programs for associate degree nursing students has proved inconclusive in promoting student success. A significant difference was identified in first semester course grades between the orientation and no orientation groups, with the orientation group having an average lower course grade. The potential for confounding variables was discussed. There were no significant differences found in the relationship between orientation participation and first-year retention rates or orientation participation and persistence to graduation. Data analysis also determined that student age did not influence the prediction of first-year retention rates for students who did or did not participate in the orientation program. The results of this study suggest that there is no relationship between a program-specific orientation program for associate degree nursing students and their first-year retention and persistence rates