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Students’ college life adaptation experiences in the accelerated second-degree bachelor of science in nursing program in South Korea

Purpose: South Korea has expanded its accelerated second-degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to resolve its supply-demand imbalance in nursing, although how these students are adapting to and performing in college after admission remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct an in-depth exploration of how Korean accelerated second-degree Bachelor of Science nursing students interact with society and adapt to college life for establishing further supportive educational policies and programs.Methods: Participants comprised 20 South Korean accelerated second-degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing students. The data were collected via online or offline in-depth interviews and analyzed using Strauss and Corbin’s grounded theory and by applying a constant comparative method to achieve theoretical saturation.Results: The core category, derived using open, axial, and selective coding, was “process of the uncharted journey toward a new dream.” The participants’ college adaptation processes were found to involve three phases: trial and error, adjustment, and acceptance and integration.Conclusion: These findings can be used to develop, apply, test, and improve various support programs for accelerated second-degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing students and to advance the nursing profession by nurturing a workforce with diverse academic backgrounds and faster college life adaptation.