Using holistic admissions in pre-licensure programs to diversify the nursing workforce

Changing demographics, the shift to community prevention and health promotion, complexity of medical care advances, and chronicity requires nursing professionals who are attuned to the diverse healthcare needs of communities. Nursing schools are beginning to build on holistic admission procedures that are being used by other healthcare disciplines to be more inclusive in the evaluation of applicants. This article outlines the background of holistic admissions and a State University implementation for prospective prelicensure nursing student admissions that reflect institutional mission and goals to create a more inclusive learning environment. The School of Nursing has five years of experience in holistic admissions of a second baccalaureate entry program and now is applying those procedures to high school entry nursing applicants. This article shares the complex vetting required in obtaining statewide academic and local stakeholder approval to change freshmen admission procedures across a University system. New applicant holistic admission appraisal included aptitude, characteristics, and experiences along with academic metrics. Recruitment, selection, and admission procedures are multifaceted and require change at the University and State levels to achieve the goal of a more diverse student population. Implementing creative holistic admissions processes will better align the future-nursing workforce with communities they serve. •The outcome of holistic admissions is to increase diversity of nursing students.•Holistic admissions include student applicant experiences, attributes, and metrics.•Process of implementation of holistic admission in a State University system•Holistic admissions incorporate historical legal parameters.•Utilize training programs and shared experiences to facilitate holistic admissions