Holistic Admissions Review in Nursing Education: A Concept Analysis Using Rodgers' Evolutionary Method

AIM The aim of this study was to analyze holistic review within the context of collegiate nursing program admissions. BACKGROUND Holistic review is the evaluation of individual qualifications for college admission based on a pattern of individualized factors, including standardized scores, personal characteristics, experiences, abilities, and educational/professional "fit." Medical schools regularly use holistic review, and more nursing schools may adopt holistic review in the future. METHOD Rodgers' evolutionary method of concept analysis was used to examine usage in current praxis. RESULTS Findings support a desire to enhance diversity in collegiate, health-related programs while increasing numbers of culturally competent, qualified providers representative of the US population. CONCLUSION Holistic review promotes diversity of nursing students and future nurse providers. This concept analysis provides a unified definition of holistic review to promote educational and health-care-related equity through increased representativeness of nursing students and future nurses.