Analysis Paper

Running head: THE CONCEPT ANALYSIS OF REMEDIATION 1

THE CONCEPT ANALYSIS OF REMEDIATION 15

THE CONCEPT ANALYSIS OF REMEDIATION 2

Select a Concept

The concept of remediation will be explored in relationship to nursing school students and failure in their nursing classes. A problem has been identified at the college where I currently teach associate degree, second year nursing students. The students are failing nursing courses and are allowed to return to the identical nursing class without a plan of action for success. This is resulting in repeat failures in the same nursing course and a decrease in retention.

Aim of Concept Analysis

The purpose of this paper is to effectively define the concept of remediation. This paper will study the structure and function of this concept. The identification of this concept will produce defining attributes, antecedents and a conceptual definition. The concept analysis will clarify the definition of remediation allowing any one reading the definition within a theory to understand the concept as it is being applied. Analysis of the concept of remediation will assist in determining ways to measure the concept.

Presently, at the college where I teach nursing, there has been a significant rise in the number of repeat failures in nursing classes. This means that students who fail a nursing class on Friday, are allowed to return to the same class on the following Monday. Although some students may succeed in the nursing course a second time, the majority of the students are unsuccessful. There are a number of considerations for these failures. First, should there be a plan of action in place for these students to pursue that will aide in their future success? Second, should we permit these students who are at risk academically and at times financially to return with only the weekend off? Payment is then expected, when the likelihood of a second failure is high. And third, knowing this is an at risk student population, should educators accept these terms set by the college? Unfortunately, this conduct by the college administration has increased the number of students who do not finish nursing school successfully. Therefore, the need for remediation, as defined in this analysis, is paramount if we expect to see an increase in student retention and an increase in the NCLEX pass rate at this college.

Current Uses and Historical Perspectives

The recurring theme as seen in the dictionary is the act or action to correct a problem, to remedy.

Numerous concepts of remediation are found in the literature. According to Sifford and McDaniel (2007) remediation requires that a program plan includes learning requirements for students and is problem focused.

Another concept of remediation noted in the literature states that there should be a plan, started early, for each student who is struggling and this plan should be continued until graduation (Davenport, 2007).

Realizing that a student may be in jeopardy of failing a nursing course and arranging an in person meeting should be initiated by the professor. Setting up a mutually agreed upon plan for remediation should be tailored to precise student needs. (Gallent, MacDonald, & Smith-Higuchi).

Hopkins (2008) described remediation as a successful way to intervene to assist students in order to decrease attrition rates. Remediation should be started early for a successful outcome.

Defining Attributes

According to Walker & Avant (2011), the defining attributes are characteristics that are linked to that concept. These characteristics are the best way to recognize the concept and differentiate it from others similar to the concept.

Remedy is a defining attribute of remediation because it is found in the definition of remediation. Although this word is not found in the literature in the context of student outcomes, it is an important concept to understand when analyzing the concept of remediation. A remedy is a fix, a cure, a solution, or a treatment. Hence, the outcome of a remedy or a solution is remediation.

Intervention is another defining attribute of remediation. According to Cleland, Mackenzie, Ross, Sinclair & Lee (2010) if a faculty member suggests remediation to students who do not realize they need intervention, class results usually improved.

Another defining attribute of remediation is success. It is defined as someone that has a positive outcome of success; they succeed (“Miriam-Webster,” 2012).

Strategy is also a defining attribute of remediation. According to Miriam-Webster (n.d.) strategy is defined as a plan that has a successful outcome.

Related Terms

Synonyms of remediation according to the Dictionary reference (n.d.) are as follows: improvement, success, support, corrective, plan, and prevent, intervention and restorative. All these words are synonymous with or sometimes used as a substitute for the word remediation. These terms are often present when remediation is in place, and may be helpful when identifying remediation.

Conceptual Definition

Remediation is an academic plan put in place, for at risk students. It is an intervention or strategy, a seven week course, advised by a professor to attend, for an identified associate degree nursing student. This student has failed a nursing course for the first time. The remediation will assist in passing nursing courses, assist in retention in the nursing program and increase the NCLEX pass rate.

Model Case

When all the attributes of a concept are utilized, it is an example of a model case (Walker & Avant 2011). An associate degree nursing student began her first day in her nursing class. The syllabus was provided for the nursing class and clearly stated the objectives for the course. She understood that achieving 80% was the indicator for successful completion of this course. After her first and second exam results were 70%, she began to study every day. Even with this increased effort she failed, with a 75% and had to repeat the nursing course. The professor recognized that she may be at risk for failure a second time and advised that she attend the remediation plan (academic plan) that the college had put in place, which was a seven week course. The student, being very respectful, accepted this strategy as a much needed intervention for success and retention in the nursing program. After the intervention plan was completed, which required she attend the course and read the book, the student was successful in her nursing course work and completed the program. She graduated from the program and passed the NCLEX exam.

Borderline Case

An associate degree nursing student, Bob, just began his nursing classes. He was an older man, with many responsibilities. He had a full time job, a family, and was attending school on a full time basis. Although Bob was very intelligent, he found himself just barely making the grade. He was maintaining a 79% average and the passing grade for nursing was 80%. Bob was unable to attain 80% due to all his obligations and failed his course. The nursing instructor recognized that Bob would be at risk for failure when he repeated this nursing course and intervened. Bob was offered a remediation course (academic plan). This was a seven week course, a strategy utilized to promote successful course outcomes. He accepted the terms of the remediation course and after completion, repeated the nursing course. Unfortunately, Bob obtained a 79% and was ultimately unsuccessful in nursing school. This example meets the requirements of a borderline case because it uses most of the attributes of remediation but not all (Walker & Avant 2011). While Bob accepted and attended the remediation course, the strategy in place to assist in success, he ultimately was unsuccessful in his nursing course.

Related Case

Support is a concept related to remediation in that support means to assist or help (Mirriam-Webster, n.d.). The following example is one that illustrates this definition. A nursing student, Anthony was in his first nursing course and was doing very poorly. He also had a very bad attitude and skipped class on a regular basis. His grades were reflective of his attendance, which was a failing grade of 76%. Anthony was aware that he was required to achieve 80% and was somewhat concerned, but continued to skip class. He did not correct his behavior and blamed everyone else for his failure and stated the nursing professor did not like him. The nursing professor was aware of Anthony’s complaints and offered support that might help him to pass his nursing course. The support offered was a one hour session in the library, which Anthony decided to attend. After completion he failed his nursing class, and was unable to continue in the nursing program. In summary, a related case resembles a concept, but lacks all defining attributes (Walker & Avant 2011). Support is clearly not equivalent to remediation and lacks a clearly defined strategy, thus the outcome is unsuccessful.

Contrary Case

An example of a contrary case is opposite of the concept, and every one of the defining attributes are omitted (Walker & Avant 2011). A nursing student, Holly, has begun her first year of nursing school. Holly passed her first nursing course with an 80%. The second nursing course resulted in failure (76%), which required Holly to repeat the nursing course. She has always struggled in her course work and is about to drop out. Holly’s professor suggests to her to repeat the nursing class which begins the next week, since there aren’t any other options available at this college. Holly starts the nursing course again the following week and fails miserably (72%). Holly is unable to return to the nursing program due to her repeated failures. This illustrates that the defining attributes of remediation which are intervention, strategy and success are absent, which represent a contrary case.

Antecedents

The antecedents that must occur prior to remediation include being a nursing student, being in a nursing course, advisement, failure, or failed learning outcomes for the nursing course. Nursing students cannot attend remediation unless they are in a nursing program. A student cannot be in remediation unless advised by their nursing professor to attend. One cannot attend the remediation course unless they have failed their nursing course and have not met all the learning outcomes.

Consequences

The consequences of remediation are student success in the nursing course, increased student retention and increased success on NCLEX board results. The remediation intervention will assist in improving the success rate and outcomes for the students who have failed a nursing course and return to retake the same nursing course. The remediation course will aide in the student’s ability for future success in the nursing program and increase retention rates. This will lead to increased success on NCLEX board results.

Empirical Referents

This will be measured quantitatively by comparing the number of nursing students that fail in their nursing course and return to the same class without remediation (pre-intervention group 2011, 2012) as compared to the post-intervention group in 2013.

Concept Map

Please see attached

References

Cleland, J. Mackenzie, R., Sinclair, H., & Lee, A. (2010). A remedial intervention linked to a formative assessment is effective in terms of improving student performance in subsequent degree examinations [journal]. MEDICAL TEACHER, 32, 185-190. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/01421591003657485

Davenport, C. (2007). A comprehensive approach to NCLEX-RN success. Nursing Education Perspectives, 28(1), 30-34.

Gallent, M., MacDonald, J., & Smith-Higuchi, K. (2006). A remediation process for nursing students at risk for clinical failure. Nurse Educator, 31(5), 223-227.

Hopkins, T. (2008). Early identification of at-risk nursing students: a student support model. Journal of Nursing Education, 47(6).

Nibert, A. T., Adamson, C., Young, A., Lauchner, K. A., Britt, R. B., & Hinds, M. N. (2006, August). Choosing a theoritical framework to guide hesi exit examination research. Journal of Nursing Research, 45, 303-304.

Remediation. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster dictionary. Retrieved from

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/remediation

Remediation. (n.d.). In Oxford dictionary. Retrieved from http:oxforddictionaries.com/definition/americn_english/remediation

Remediation. (n.d.). In Online etymology dictionary. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/remediation

Remedy. (n.d.). In Thesaurus. Retrieved from http://thesaurus.com/browse/remedy?s=t

Sifford, S. & McDaniel, D. M. (2007). Results of remediation program for students at risk for failure on the NCLEX exam. Nursing Education, 28(1), 34-36.

Strategy. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strategy

Succeed. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/succeed

Walker, L. O., & Avant, K. C. (2011). Strategies for theory construction in nursing (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Educational Inc.