Ryer Jacquelyn, Birriel Barbara
The Pennsylvania State University, United States of America.
The Pennsylvania State University, United States of America.
J Prof Nurs. 2025 Jul-Aug;59:109-113. doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2025.04.014. Epub 2025 May 5.
Graduate nursing students encounter a variety of academic and social sources of stress and anxiety. Post COVID pandemic review of mental health reveals worsening statistics for graduate students. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) attrition is increasing, with student support issues and program stressors being two major predictors of attrition. At a large university, academic progression through the first two specialty courses revealed a 5-28 % failure/withdrawal rate. A Peer Support Pilot Program was implemented as a resource for students.
The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate a Peer Support Pilot Program for students in the Adult Gerontology-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-ACNP/CNS) track DNP program.
The program was designed with literature, faculty, and student engagement. The program was implemented over one semester. An evaluation was completed looking at utilization, academic progression, and student perception. Attendance of in-person events and academic progression were recorded by course faculty. An anonymous Qualtrics Survey was sent to participants assess utilization and perceptions.
Students utilized their peer coaches for support throughout the semester (90 %), and half perceived it as contributing to their academic success. There was no measurable change in academic progression for AG-ACNP/CNS students compared to the year prior.
A Peer Support Program is a well-known evidence-based intervention to support undergraduate nursing students. There are few studies that look at graduate nursing student's outcomes and utilization with peer support. Although this project revealed graduate nursing students perceived the program contributed to their academic success, there was no impact on academic progression. Further research is needed to assess the impact of peer support on graduate nursing students.
护理学研究生会遇到各种学业和社交方面的压力与焦虑源。新冠疫情后对心理健康的审查显示，研究生的相关数据愈发严峻。护理学实践博士（DNP）项目的学生流失率不断上升，学生支持问题和项目压力源是流失的两大主要预测因素。在一所大型大学中，前两门专业课程的学业进展情况显示，不及格/退学率为5% - 28%。于是实施了一个同伴支持试点项目，作为学生的一项资源。
本项目的目的是为成人老年病学 - 急性护理执业护士/临床护士专家（AG - ACNP/CNS）方向的DNP项目学生实施并评估一个同伴支持试点项目。
该项目通过文献研究、教师参与和学生参与进行设计。该项目在一个学期内实施。完成了一项评估，考察项目的利用率、学业进展和学生看法。课程教师记录了面对面活动的参与情况和学业进展。向参与者发送了一份匿名的Qualtrics调查问卷，以评估项目的利用率和看法。
学生在整个学期都利用同伴教练提供支持（90%），半数学生认为这有助于他们在学业上取得成功。与上一年相比，AG - ACNP/CNS专业的学生在学业进展方面没有可衡量的变化。
同伴支持项目是一种广为人知的循证干预措施，用于支持本科护理学生。很少有研究关注研究生护理学生在同伴支持下的成果和利用率。尽管本项目显示研究生护理学生认为该项目有助于他们在学业上取得成功，但对学业进展没有影响。需要进一步研究来评估同伴支持对研究生护理学生的影响。
