The Growth Mindset in Nursing Education

Abstract

Introduction: The growth mindset model has been linked with academic success in disciplines outside of nursing. Growth mindset learners are more likely to believe that intelligence is malleable, remain engaged in learning, persist through challenges, remediate, and have greater academic success. This study examined whether growth mindset nursing students were more engaged in their curriculum, were more persistent (gritty), and their perceptions of belonging in nursing school as opposed to fixed mindset peers. Methods: 102 students from a national database responded to a web-based survey. Results suggested that growth mindset learners were grittier and expressed higher levels of belonging than their fixed mindset colleagues. Implications include a need to consider the integration of the growth mindset model into nursing education.