scholarly journals Nursing students’ perceptions of soft skills training in Ghana

Curationis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Laari ◽  
Barbara M. Dube

Background: The quality of nursing care rendered today is markedly reducing and the amount of time spent with patients listening to and explaining issues concerning their conditions is gradually diminishing. The therapeutic touch and the listening ear of the nurse are no longer accessible to the patient. Understanding what non-technical skills are and their relevance for healthcare practitioners has become a new area of consideration. Although recent literature has highlighted the necessity of introducing soft skills training and assessment within medical education, nursing education is yet to fully embrace this skills training.Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore nursing students’ understanding of the concept of soft skills and to acquire their perception on the need for soft skills training to promote quality nursing care.Methods: A quantitative research design with descriptive and explorative strategies was used. One hundred and ten nursing students were sampled after permission to conduct the study was requested and obtained from the University of KwaZulu-Natal Ethics Committee.Results: The results indicated that a majority (68.8%) of respondents understood the concept of soft skills and agreed with the definition of ‘soft skills’. They furthermore agreed that soft skills should be part of the training that student nurses receive during their professional training.Conclusion: The study revealed that there is a need for nursing students to be educated in soft skills and that this will enhance their job performances in the clinical environment and improve the way in which they communicate with their clients.

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 444-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerda-Marie Meyer ◽  
Elsabe Nel ◽  
Charlene Downing

Background: Caring is the core of nursing and should be cultivated in student nurses. However, there are serious concerns about the caring concern in the clinical environment and in nursing education. Clinical instructors are ideally positioned to care for student nurses so that they in turn, can learn to care for their patients.Methods: A descriptive, comparative, cross-sectional and correlational quantitative research design with convenience sampling was conducted to describe the perceptions of junior student nurses (n = 148) and senior student nurses (n = 168) regarding clinicalin structor caring. A structured self administered questionnaire using the Nursing Student Perceptions of Instructor Caring (NSPIC) (Wade & Kasper, 2006) was used. Descriptive statistics and hypotheses testing using parametric and non parametric methods were conducted. The reliability of the NSPIC was determined.Results: Respondents had a positive perception of their clinical instructors' caring. No relationship could be found between the course the respondents were registered for, the frequency of contact with a clinical instructor, the ages of the respondents and their perceptions of clinical instructor caring. The NSPIC was found to be reliable if one item each from two of the subscales were omitted.Conclusions: Student nurses perceived most strongly that a caring clinical instructor made them feel confident, specifically when he/she showed genuine interest in the patients and their care, and when he/she made them feel that they could be successful.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Thi Thang

Applying qualitative and quantitative research methods, the study has outlined basic issues of discovery learning as a theoretical basis for organizing discovery learning in the teaching and learning of pedagogy at the University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (ULIS-VNU). In practice, the focus is on evaluating the effectiveness of discovery learning model application and the level of soft skills students aquire through discovery learning activities in teaching and learning pedagogy at ULIS-VNU. Lecturers’ ability to organize discovery learning activities in teaching pedagogy has also been assessed. The results indicate that although students’ assessments of all the three aspects are positive, the majority believe that several points need changing and improving, such as: suitable plans for evaluation and self-assessment of learning outcomes throughout the course in place; both the objectives and content of discovery learning should be clearly and specifically designed, etc. and in order to achieve the expected results in teaching and learning pedagogy along with the intergration of soft skills training for students at ULIS-VNU in particular, and in pedagogical colleges in general, discovery learning activities need to be appropriately, rigorously and scientifically organized.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hester C. De Swardt

Background: Competencies of health care workers, including nurses, often do not meet the health needs of populations. The clinical learning environment (CLE) is vital in socialising neophyte student nurses to display the desired competencies. Student nurses are however confronted with challenges, especially in the CLE, during this process.Aim: This article shares three validated guidelines to support professional nurses and nurse educators in facilitating appropriate professional socialisation of student nurses in the CLE.Setting: The study was conducted in an 832-bed academic hospital and nine nursing education institutions (NEIs) that offered the nursing programme concerned in a province in South Africa.Method: A sequential, exploratory, mixed-methods study was conducted and qualitative data were collected from two purposive samples, consisting of seven focus group interviews and field notes. Five themes that emerged from the integrated data guided the instrument design to collect data quantitatively from 277 educators. Experts validated 10 guidelines to a set of criteria, which was developed combining all data.Results: Qualitative and quantitative research evidenced that the CLE mostly did not support student nurses during professional socialisation. A few role models’ behaviour was noteworthy, while student supervision was inadequate. The CLE was stressful, lacked in resources, marked by uncoordinated student placement, insufficient communication and inadequate preparation of student nurses. This evidence informed the development of the guidelines.Conclusions: The guidelines were (1) the empowerment of role models through reflective practice, (2) capacity building of professional nurses and nurse educators as clinical supervisors by means of intervention strategies and (3) adopting a multifaceted approach in the creation of a positive CLE. These guidelines could facilitate appropriate professional socialisation of student nurses.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasniatisari Harun ◽  
Yusshy Kurnia Herliani ◽  
Anita Setyawati

Professional nurses could be prepared through professional nursing programs. Professional nursing program is part of the nursing education program. One of the competencies required to be professional nurses is implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) to explore the best nursing interventions for patients to get optimal outcome. Nursing students have learned EBP during bachelor degree by analysis case using the EBP method. However, evaluation related  students' understanding of the method and its application of EBP to the clinical practice was none. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of knowledge with student competency in the implementation of evidence based practice (EBP) to managed patients in the medical surgical nursing stage. This research is quantitative research. The sample in this study was 120 nursing students who were at professional nursing program that were recruited using total sampling technique. The instrument used is the Evidence Based Practice Questionnaire (EBPQ) questionnaire. The results showed that more than half of the respondents had high knowledge (68%), and high competence (49%). This study shows a meaningful relationship between knowledge of student competence in applying EBP (r = .6070, p <0.01). The findings of this study are important for recommendations related to developing teaching materials in nursing education related to for providing the best service for patients.


Curationis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thando Nyangeni ◽  
Suzette Du Rand ◽  
Dalena Van Rooyen

Background: Social media have become a popular communication system that has transformed communication from the traditional to the Web-based model. Because social media use has no limitations to place and time, it is now used extensively at clinical facilities. Social media useis becoming a popular activity amongst students at Nursing Education Institutions (NEI) in South Africa. However, lack of accountability and unethical use of social media by nursing students in South Africa has been reported.Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of nursing students regarding responsible use of social media.Methods: A qualitative, descriptive, explorative and contextual research design was used to explore and describe the perceptions of nursing students regarding the responsible use of social media. Twelve nursing students registered for the undergraduate nursing degree were purposely selected and interviewed individually using a semi-structured interview method.Results: The results of this research study demonstrate that nursing students use socialmedia irresponsibly. Nursing students experience blurred boundaries between personal and professional lines and lack accountability when using social media.Conclusion: The extensive use of social media in the clinical environment, by healthcare students, requires a joint effort by Nursing Education Institutions and healthcare facilities to ensure that social media are used in an ethically acceptable manner. The implementation of the recommendations of this research study could positively influence legally and ethically acceptable use of social media at healthcare facilities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Majda Pahor ◽  
Barbara Domajnko ◽  
Elisabeth Lindahl

Introduction: Nursing education in Europe is undergoing the development toward greater comparability under the Bologna process. Based on our mutual experiences from teaching in Slovenia and Sweden, the students' perspectives on knowledge and nursing practice became an issue. The aim was to explore Slovenian and Swedish undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of knowledge needed for future practice. Methods: A qualitative study design was applied. A questionnaire with open ended questions was used to collect opinions of 174 nursing students from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, and 109 nursing students from the University of Umea, Sweden. Textual data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Four subcategories were identified, related to the content of knowledge: knowledge about 'bodies and diseases', about 'people and communication'; and to its purpose: 'to do nursing' and 'to be a nurse'. The main theme, 'integration', indicated the students' awareness of the complexity of their future work and the need for a wide integrated knowledge. Discussion and conclusion: There were more similarities than differences between the Slovenian and Swedish students included in the study. The students were aware of the complex responsibilities and expressed the need for integrating various competences. Interprofessional education should become a constitutive part of nursing education programmes.


Author(s):  
Yogik Setia Anggreini ◽  
Yayi Suryo Prabandari ◽  
Titi Savitri Prihatiningsih

Background: Professional Behavior is a reflection of the professionalism, which includes academic integrity. Some of student’s behavioral violations related to academic integrity are influenced by perception. However, students and lecturers tend to interpret these violations differently associated with severity of academic integrity, for example, the sanction against violations of academic integrity. Thus, these differences may contribute to the number of occurrences of academic integrity violations. This study aims to identify the perception of nursing students and lecturers about the level of sanctions for violations of academic integrity.Method: This study used a mixed method using a sequential explanatory design. This was also a quantitative research survey using a questioner to 101 nursing students, followed by focus group discussion done by the students and in-depth interviews to four lecturers.Results: The behavior deemed not to be in violation was 1% -5.9%. Most students chose sanction level 2 (21.8% - 66.35%), sanction level 3 (23.8% - 28.7%) and the highest sanction level or level 10 (19.8%)Conclusion: The perception of students to the sanction level out of 22 items, 15 items nursing students chose sanction level 2 “verbal warning” (21.8% - 66.35%), 2 items students chose sanction level 3 “written warning” (23.8% -28.7%). The highest sanction level chosen was level 10 “reported to the professional regulatory body” (19.8%). The lecturers assumed that mild sanction first given was in the form of verbal warning and the toughest was being suspended.


Author(s):  
Mehmet Günay Uyar ◽  
Şefika Dilek Güven

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between nursing students’ critical thinking disposition and autonomy levels. METHODS: The descriptive-relationship seeking study was conducted with 288 nursing students in the nursing department of a state university. Data were collected by using the Descriptive Characteristics Information Form, which included socio-demographic characteristics, California Critical Thinking Disposition Scale and Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale. Data were analyzed by number, percentage, mean, standard deviation and Pearson correlation tests. RESULTS: It was found that the students’ mean autonomy subscale of Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale score was 87.43±11.27 and the overall mean score of critical thinking disposition was 232.52±23.30. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the students› overall mean scores of California Critical Thinking Disposition Scale and autonomy subscale scores of Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale (r = 0.526, p <0.010). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In the study, the autonomy levels of the students were above the middle level; critical thinking disposition levels were low; There was a positive relationship between critical thinking disposition and autonomy levels. The results of the study suggest that nursing education curricula should be revised and restructured in order to raise students’ critical thinking and autonomy levels in nursing education.


2022 ◽  
pp. 162-188
Author(s):  
Amy M. Curtis ◽  
Tiffani L. Chidume ◽  
David R. Crumbley ◽  
Meghan C. Jones ◽  
Karol Renfroe ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic created a paradigm shift in the way educators employ active learning strategies. In this chapter, the authors discuss how engaging and innovative learning strategies were developed to teach baccalaureate-level nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial focus is on the teaching and learning strategies created for first-semester students who are developing foundational nursing skills and concepts. The discussion transitions to complex strategies developed for fourth-semester students, solidifying critical thinking and clinical judgment skills. Highlighted are active learning strategies used in the classroom, skills lab, and simulated clinical environment. These promote clinical judgment and present practical direction for adapting technology to provide an engaging learning environment. Throughout the chapter, the authors use several strategies to showcase how a nursing program responded to COVID-19 restrictions, including active learning and technology strategies, and how they can be applied across a curriculum using varying levels of technology.


Curationis ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferdinand C. Mukumbang ◽  
Oluyinka Adejumo

Background: Teaching hospitals are medical institutes at which most nursing education institutions provide their students with practical nursing experience. Although the focus of care is the patient, attention is sometimes focused more on the nursing students rather than on the patients who are undergoing care at the hands of both the nursing professionals and students. However, proper nursing care should also take into account the experiences of patients during the care process in the health facility.Objectives: The study had three objectives: to describe the experiences of patients nursed by student nurses in a teaching hospital in the Western Cape; to identify patterns in the experiences of patients receiving patient care from student nurses; and to analyse aspects of the experiences that may need further attention for the training of student nurses.Method: A descriptive phenomenological approach was used to explore the experiences of patients nursed by student nurses. Participant selection took place purposively from different wards of the identified teaching hospital, and thematic saturation was achieved at 10 participants. The data were collected through in-depth interviews and analysed using thematic content analysis.Results: Three main themes were discovered after data analysis: methods of identification of student nurses by patients; positive perceptions of student nurses by patients; and negative perceptions of student nurses by patients.Conclusion: The findings will inform the clinical supervisors and educational institutions of aspects of the nursing training of student nurses that need improvement and those that require enforcement. 


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