Exploring available admission criteria for a bachelor of science in nursing/midwifery: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND

Nursing and midwifery are crucial professions in healthcare systems, and the availability of well-trained professionals in these fields contributes to achieving global and national health goals. The process of equipping nurses and midwives with professional knowledge and skills starts with selecting candidates that are suitable for the profession, and able to complete nursing/midwifery education and become lifelong learners.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify and document currently available admission criteria for a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nursing/Midwifery.

METHODS

This scoping review used Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework to explore admission criteria for BSc in Nursing/Midwifery programs. The findings were reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. The review period was January 2014 to May 2024.

RESULTS

We initially identified 551 studies from various databases. After a comprehensive screening process, 36 studies were eligible for this review; 33(91.7%) were from developed countries and three (8.3%) were from developing countries. The findings revealed several types of admission criteria that accommodated diversity and flexibility in procedures for selecting nursing/midwifery applicants. These criteria included the experience, attributes, and academic metrics model, holistic admission review, reasoning skills tests, value-based approaches, Multiple Mini Interviews, the Nursing Match instrument, validated thinking skills tests, psychological strength assessments, and a combination of cognitive and non-cognitive approaches.

CONCLUSION

Adopting admission criteria that are effective in selecting candidates who are well-suited for the nursing profession, reflect job market diversity, and are likely to excel in their academic pursuits is important, especially in Africa. Studies from developing countries encourage nursing schools to consider the diversity and flexibility of nursing/midwifery applicants. Developing frameworks or policies to accommodate diversity and flexibility will ensure proper implementation at the local level.