Nursing Success Boot Camp

The Nursing Success Boot Camp pathway project, developed collaboratively by Camden County College and Atlantic Cape Community College, is designed to improve student persistence and academic success in nursing programs by providing intensive academic preparation and individualized coaching support at key transition points.

At Camden County College, the focus was on students entering the Practical Nursing program. A 10-week summer boot camp began with four weeks of foundational instruction in medical terminology, infection control, and dosage calculations. This was followed by six weeks of engagement with the ATI Launch platform, which addressed key skills including anatomy and physiology, math, reading comprehension, and study strategies. A nursing success specialist provided individualized academic coaching and continued to support students as they progressed into their first nursing course (NUR 108). Student performance is being tracked to inform continuous improvements.

At Atlantic Cape Community College, the boot camp was integrated into a broader academic success strategy supporting Registered Nursing students, including those reentering the program after academic setbacks. Through a combination of group learning and individual coaching, students strengthened skills in study habits, time management, test-taking, and utilization of campus resources. In Fall 2023 and Spring 2024, 91 students received targeted support, resulting in a 12.55% reduction in attrition in the foundational course (N110) and course pass rates exceeding 90% in other nursing courses. A two-day, eight-hour Nursing Success Boot Camp was delivered in Summer 2024, followed by guided use of the ATI Launch platform to reinforce academic preparedness.

This pathway project underscores the importance of early academic intervention, personalized coaching, and structured preparation to support student success in nursing education. Both colleges plan to use the data collected to refine and expand the model, making academic success coaching a more formalized and sustainable element of their nursing programs.