Enhancing Nursing Student Success: A Critical Realist Framework of Modifiable Factors

There is a range of literature examining the predictors of academic success in nursing including age, entrance qualifi cation and background. However, these are factors that cannot be changed once a student is on a programme of study. However, there is currently little or no literature that focuses only on the modifi able behaviors and environmental factors in achieving good academic success. This project aimed to explore the modifi able factors that may infl uence academic performance and develop a framework to guide students and academic staff. A critical realist ‘intensive' approach employing qualitative methods was used with pre-registration 3rd year nursing students as participants. Unstructured interviews with use of academic grade documents as a point of reference. Thematic framework analysis enabled comparison on a case-by-case basis.