Matthew Hunt, RN, DNP, CRNA

DNP Nurse Anesthesia

Academic Entitlement, Personality, and Academic Performance Among Graduate Health Students

Project Category:  Original Research 

Project Team: Matthew Hunt, DNP, CRNA, Emily McCarthy, DNP, CRNA, Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Greenwood, PhD, CRNA, FAANA

Abstract

Background: Academic entitlement (AE) is a recently recognized phenomenon in which students have an expectation of academic success without taking personal responsibility for it. AE behaviors include contesting grades and demanding special accommodations. AE potentially risks patient safety in healthcare education by allowing ill-prepared providers to manage care. Current AE research focuses on undergraduate students outside of healthcare, necessitating a more specific investigation into graduate student populations to determine trends in AE and predictive factors.

Methods: An observational, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous survey of students at a midwestern university of graduate health professions. The survey used validated measures of AE, narcissistic personality index (NPI), and social desirability. Participation was solicited using direct email and data capture with Qualtrics. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine predictive demographic factors and possible correlations with AE.

Results: Demographic factors were not significantly correlated with AE, NPI, or socially desirable responding (SDR). There was also no significant correlation between AE, NPI, and SDR, although higher NPI levels were negatively associated with SDR. A positive correlation emerged between SDR and self-reported GPA (p= 0.027). Qualitative analysis showed divided opinions on grading flexibility, with most agreeing that healthcare students should be held to higher academic standards.

Conclusion: No clear correlation was found between AE, NPI, or SDR, however, a notable relationship between narcissism and SDR, along with a positive correlation among SDR and GPA highlight potential areas for further exploration.