This study explored registered nurses' participation in baccalaureate nursing programs as a holistic phenomenon, focusing on eliciting their perspective of the process. Indepth unstructured interviews were conducted with 18 registered nurses who were at various points in their pursuit of the baccalaureate degree in nursing. Analysis revealed seven themes which were incorporated into a model describing registered nurses' participation in baccalaureate nursing programs. The themes define the primary tasks involved in participation and persistence, and describe factors which influence the achievement of these tasks. The findings identify a new variable involved in participation, increase our understanding of the role played by life transitions in participation, suggest a framework for examining relationships between school and nonschool variables in dropout, and have implications for several aspects of practice.
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