Learning style, academic success, and the baccalaureate nursing student

The purpose of the study was to examine the difference in academic success based on learning styles of baccalaureate nursing students. A convenience sample of 19 sophomore, 43 junior, and 19 senior baccalaureate nursing students was selected from those enrolled in summer and fall nursing courses at a NLN accredited Midwest university. Differences in academic success based on learning style were analyzed for each level as well as for the entire group. The predominance of one learning style for baccalaureate nursing students was an additional research question that was addressed.The Kolb Learning Style Inventory was utilized to elicit and categorize student learning styles. Academic success was operationally defined as the student's nursing GPA. Nursing GPAs were obtained and calculated from the student's academic record.Differences were analyzed utilizing a two way analysis of variance. The study's results indicated that there is no significant difference in academic success as it relates to learning style or level in the baccalaureate nursing program. Data also suggests that the predominant learning styles among baccalaureate nursing students are concrete in nature.