Does purpose in life affect the associate degree nursing student's academic success?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not a relationship existed between freshman associate degree nursing students' purpose in life and their academic success. The study also sought to determine if a relationship existed between purpose in life and age or between purpose in life and previous work experience in a health care faci1ity.

Ninety freshman associate degree nursing students who were enrolled in one of three ADN programs in Western Tennessee comprised the final sample. All subjects were taking their first nursing course.

The Purpose In Life Test (Part A) was used to measure the subjects' degree of purpose in life. A questionnaire developed by the researcher assessed sociodemographic characteristics.

Pearson product-moment correlation technique was applied to the data. No significant correlations were found between purpose in life and the variables--academic success, age, and previous work experience in a health care facility. A statistically significant correlation was found between age and previous work experience in a health care facility.

The non-random sample studied limits the generalizability of the findings, and the researcher identified other variables which should be investigated. Additional studies are needed to further evaluate the influence that purpose in life has on program completion and job satisfaction. Through continued research, nursing educators may find additional factors predictive of academic success.