ADN-to-BSN Articulation, Academic Progression, and Transition: A Proactive, Holistic Approach.

Background: Although improvements have been made in articulation agreements, credit transfers, and concurrent enrollments, meeting the 80% BSN by 2020 goal falls short.

Problem: Nursing students at key transitional points (such as first- and last-semester students) are faced with numerous academic and career path challenges and opportunities simultaneously, often leaving them overwhelmed and in need of additional support and resources.

Approach: Guided by Jeffreys' Nursing Universal Retention and Success model, a proactive, holistic approach for facilitating articulation, academic progression, and transition is presented.

Outcomes: Implementation with fourth/last-semester associate degree nursing students and newly admitted RN-BSN students yielded positive student feedback and survey data.

Conclusions: Nurse educators can make a positive difference in students' transitional experiences, career path planning, and educational mobility via a coordinated, connected, proactive, holistic approach guided by an evidence-based theoretical framework.