Projected qualified nursing deficits and high student attrition levels highlighted need to investigate cultivation of grit, a malleable trait involving perseverance and passion despite challenges and difficulties. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to investigate how second-year nursing students with high levels of self-perceived grit describe how grit was cultivated during their associate degree-seeking nursing program and how additional academic and non-academic strategies aided them in dealing with the challenges of their associate degree-seeking nursing program at a rural, central Arizonan community college. The study foundation utilized Duckworth and associates' Grit Theory. Twenty-two second year associate-degree seeking nursing students in rural central Arizona completed demographic and Grit-O Scale questions using Survey Monkey™ and participated in either semi-structured interviews or focus group discussions. Research questions focused on how grit was cultivated and how academic and non-academic strategies aided students during their nursing program. Inductive thematic analysis revealed the following six themes: the importance of perseverance and passion, both facets of grit; the importance of identification of program challenges and strategies dealing with challenges; the significance of nursing cohort, family, and friends, and seeking instructor support. Study implications emphasized: the need to cultivate nursing student facets of grit: perseverance and passion; overcoming challenges; additional academic and non-academic strategies; supportive relationships; and seeking instructor support during the associate degree-seeking nursing program. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]