Transition to Nursing Practice of Accelerated Second-Degree Baccalaureate Students Using Clinical Coaches

Background: A nurse-led, hospital-based academic advising service (AAS) was developed at a large Magnet (R) hospital. The AAS aided nurses and aspiring nurses as they considered advancing education. This research project was developed to evaluate the AAS. Methods: This qualitative study used a web-based survey to gather information from those who had accessed the service; there were 80 participants. Satisfaction was determined quantitatively, and qualitative data analysis was completed with naturalistic inquiry approaches and standards of rigor. Results: A total of 347 codes were isolated from the data and collapsed into nine categories. One comment, "I did not have to fumble through this alone," suggested the idea of coaching within a context of football as the overarching metaphor. Quantitative results indicated that advisees were satisfied, with 61 of 80 respondents taking specific action after the session. Conclusion: Nurses and aspiring nurses found academic advising at work helpful, and the AAS facilitated a return to formal education for some of the participants.