Grit Levels of Graduate Nursing Students: Why Grit Is Needed in Nursing

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created a need for nurses who are perseverant and passionate, the definition of grit. This study examined grit levels in Master in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students. Method: MSN and DNP students were surveyed using the Grit-S scale, which is composed of two parts: Grit-CI (consistency of interest) and Grit-PE (perseverance of effort). Results: Overall, graduate nursing students had high levels of grit as measured by the Grit-S (M = 3.9, SD = 0.5). Perseverance was higher for both MSN and DNP students than passion (M = 4.2, SD = 0.5 vs. M = 3.6, SD = 0.7). There was no difference in Grit-S levels related to program type. Conclusion: Graduate nursing students had high levels of grit. With the challenges faced by nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses with high grit levels may avoid burnout and persevere though challenges.