Psychometric Data and Survival in a College of Nursing

Abstract

A comparison of abilities and personality attributes of nursing students on the basis of pre-entrance testing data is made for a successful graduating group and an unsuccessful drop-out group. 89 students admitted to the college of nursing in 1949, 1950, and 1951 were studied. 49 graduated; 40 dropped out. Of these 40, 18 were dismissed for “scholastic failure”; 6 dropped out reportedly because they “disliked nursing.” For the remainder, marriage, personal reasons, college attendance, and illness are the reasons listed in the college records. 51% of the 40 drop-out students were identified as “poor risks” in the recommendation of the psychologist, while only 4% of the 49 who graduated were similarly identified. Since academic success at college level is essential for remaining in training, it is not surprising that L or the T percentile of the ACE is the most effective single index in predicting success or failure. The CRs for the mean percentile difference are 3.07 and 2.96 for the L and T factors respectively, significant at the .01 level of confidence. Although group differences on the Kuder Preference Record are not statistically significant, the CRs for three scales, Literary, Social Service, and Clerical, approached significance (1.97, 1.87, and 1.76). Mean scores for all scales on the MMPI were almost identical for the two groups. Careful screening through various means for identification of gross personality defects before admission is suggested as a reason for negative findings.