This study examined retention initiatives and strategies provided to underserved students in the nursing programs at three community colleges in the Southwest region. This research addressed nursing student retention, as well as ways to increase retention among underrepresented populations in the three community colleges, representing a unique ethnic group of students: Hispanic, Native American, and African American.

A comprehensive literature review was used to highlight, examine, and evaluate these initiatives. A mixed methods design is utilized to analyze both interpretive and explanatory data. Interviews, focus groups, and free write were used for the qualitative approach, while descriptive and inferential statistics analysis was used in the quantitative approach.

Findings from the literature review suggested that nursing retention initiatives were influenced by the undeserved students' characteristics and college commitment to level of academic performance. The findings also suggested that personal characteristics and academic performance were influenced by both college and student commitment.

The current nursing retention initiatives at the three community colleges region were explored. Based on the findings from the literature review and the study analysis, detailed recommendations for future research and recommendations for nursing retention strategies were made.