scholarly journals Using a developmental evaluation approach to create a supportive curriculum for first year students

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Christine S. Chauvet ◽  
Maya R. Kalogirou ◽  
Olive Yonge
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Nursing Program ◽  
First Year ◽  
Developmental Evaluation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing ◽  
Curriculum Redesign ◽  
Evaluation Approach ◽  
Many Sources

Background and objectives: First year students experience a significant transition when entering nursing school. The purpose of this research was to explore first year nursing students’ experiences to enhance and innovate the undergraduate nursing program at a large public Canadian university.Methods: The Faculty of Nursing approached their curriculum redesign process utilizing a Developmental Evaluation (DE) framework. Nineteen first year students participated in semi structured interviews and focus groups where they discussed their personal experiences as well as the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the program. After thematic analysis of the data, recommendations were provided to the faculty administration to guide changes made to the new curriculum.Results: Students appreciated opportunities where they could apply their knowledge to real-world situations. Students also expressed many sources of stress, such as inconsistency within and between courses, differing expectations, content, instruction style, and evaluation. They also voiced that there was a lack of communication and support from the Faculty and identified issues with grading systems.Conclusions: The findings from this study highlighted the need to revise the nursing curriculum to provide more student support and foster a positive student-faculty relationship. The current structure of nursing programs has created competition among students, causing a greater focus on obtaining higher grades than on meaningful learning. Integrated learning with authentic experiences was best received by first year students and provided for a collaborative environment. Finally, the findings from this study highlight the opportunities created by utilizing a DE approach to evaluate and innovate nursing curricula.

The Charles Darwin University vHospital®

2012 ◽  
pp. 219-241
Author(s):  
Gylo (Julie) Hercelinskyj ◽  
Beryl McEwan
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Professional Identity ◽  
Charles Darwin ◽  
Nursing Program ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Learning Space ◽  
Innovative Teaching ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing ◽  
Clinical Nursing

This chapter presents an overview of an innovative teaching approach in an undergraduate nursing degree at Charles Darwin University (CDU). The authors describe the development and initial integration into the first year clinical nursing subject of a virtual learning space using a case-based approach to address some of the issues associated with an externalised Bachelor of Nursing program. In addition, the use of the CDU vHospital® in supporting early role socialisation into nursing and professional identity of first year nursing students will be explored. The findings and outcomes of formal and informal evaluations of the resource are also presented. Lastly, the authors identify recommendations for future development and areas for potential future research.

scholarly journals A Multiyear Curriculum-Integrated Information Literacy Program Increases the Confidence and Research Skills of Nursing Students, Although Not as Much as Expected

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Sullo
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Literacy Program ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Web Based ◽  
School Of Nursing ◽  
Confidence Levels ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing ◽  
Integrated Information

A Review of: Farrell, A., Goosney, J., & Hutchens, K. (2013). Evaluation of the effectiveness of course integrated library instruction in an undergraduate nursing program. Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association, 34(3), 164-175. doi: 10.5596/c13-061 Objective – To evaluate nursing students’ information literacy (IL) confidence and competence after a four year implementation of a curriculum-integrated information literacy program. Design – Web-based and paper-based information literacy questionnaire. Setting – Two Schools of Nursing in Newfoundland, Canada. Subjects – 422 undergraduate nursing students. Methods – A 20-item questionnaire was distributed to nursing students at two School of Nursing programs. Questions were designed to test one or more of the nine learning outcomes set forth for the IL program. At one School of Nursing, web-based questionnaires were sent via email, while paper-based questionnaires were distributed in class at the second School of Nursing. Main Results – Because response rates were low at one of the nursing schools, these questionnaire responses were not examined, nor were they included in the data analysis. The 422 completed questionnaires were divided into groups based on the number of IL sessions attended. The class of 2011 attended two out of three IL sessions, the class of 2012 attended all three IL sessions, and the classes of 2014 and 2015 did not attend any IL classes. There were 109 responses from class of 2011 students, 98 from class of 2012 students, and 215 from the classes of 2014 and 2015 (98 and 117, respectively). Results were reported according to the two main goals of the study – evaluating confidence levels and IL skills. Regarding confidence level, the class of 2012 felt more prepared than the other classes to begin evidence-informed practice (EIP). When asked about their confidence in the ability to perform research tasks, confidence levels rose between first year students and the class of 2011, but decreased between the class of 2011 and class of 2012. In regard to information literacy skills, when asked to identify appropriate tools for locating scholarly research articles, only 2.8% of the first year students correctly identified two resources. Within the class of 2011, 33.9% could correctly identify tools, while 57.1% of the class of 2012 correctly identified appropriate tools. For a series of questions that asked if students could make appropriate decisions about the use of scholarly and popular literature, there was overall improvement between the first year students and fourth year students. Several questions asked students about their understanding of different study types; students in all classes had difficulty with these questions. Additionally, there were questions related to identifying components of PICO (problem/population, intervention, comparison, outcome), and none of the students in the first year classes or in the 2011 class were able to correctly identify all four parts although 11.2 % of the class of 2012 identified all components correctly. Students were asked to create an answerable question using the PICO format, and 11.9% of the class of 2011, along with 11.2% from the class of 2012 and 3.7% from the first year class were able to do so. When asked to identify criteria for evaluating websites, 28.4% of students in the class of 2011 and 30.6% of the class of 2012 were able to list three correct criteria. Only 8.3% of the first year students answered this question correctly. Finally, students were given a research question and asked to select the best search statement; those who answered correctly included 28.4% of the class of 2011, 27.6% from the class of 2012, and 20.8% of first year students. Conclusions – The authors concluded that overall, IL skills improved from first to fourth year, although not as much as the anecdotal information from nursing faculty would indicate. This ongoing, four year study has prompted discussion on ways to improve the current IL component of the undergraduate nursing degree curriculum, and changes will be implemented in a future version of this curriculum.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Course Integrated Library Instruction in an Undergraduate Nursing Program

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Farrell ◽  
Janet Goosney ◽  
Karen Hutchens
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Nursing Program ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing ◽  
Literacy Training ◽  
Literacy Methods ◽  
Information Literacy Skills

Introduction: Many faculty in two Schools of Nursing found that students in the fourth year of the Bachelor of Nursing program were not well equipped to perform information literacy activities efficiently and effectively, such as doing research to support their daily work. A course-integrated information literacy program was implemented at both sites, which left some students having very little information literacy training, whereas others who started the program in later years had information literacy training in all or most years of the curriculum. This study sought to evaluate students as they gained more experience with information literacy. Methods: To determine if increased exposure to information literacy training improved students' levels of competency and confidence, the authors compared first-year students with two groups of fourth-year students who had differing exposures to information literacy. Results: Acceptable response rates for data analysis were acquired at only one site. It was found that overall, fourth-year students were more confident and tested better with information literacy competencies than first-year students, but there was not as much improvement as was hypothesized. Discussion: The results of this evaluation have demonstrated a need to improve the information literacy teaching in certain areas. The data have also indicated that students do indeed retain information literacy skills with an increased number of sessions. Further areas for study are outlined as well as the limitations and strengths of the study design.

scholarly journals Summer undergraduate nursing research experience: Implementing a mentor-based research program for minority nursing undergraduates

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Darpan I. Patel ◽  
Vanessa Meling ◽  
Afsha Somani ◽  
Danila Larrotta ◽  
David A. Byrd
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Nursing Program ◽  
First Year ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Nursing Research ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing Students ◽  
Bachelor Of Science ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing ◽  
Immersion Experience

The Summer Undergraduate Nursing Research Immersion Experience (SUNRISE) program was developed to provide opportunities for eligible underrepresented/underserved (UR/US) undergraduate nursing students to participate in a semi-structured summer research experience. First year undergraduate nursing students enrolled full-time in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program were eligible to participate in SUNRISE. Significant improvements were seen in the student’s self-efficacy as scientists (pre: 4.4 ± 0.27; post: 4.6 ± 0.17) and the student’s perception of their role in research. Using a mentor-based approach, UR/US students were given one-on-one training that is often lacking in nursing programs. Though only in its first year, preliminary data suggest that the SUNRISE program can impact UR/US student’s sense of scientific efficacy preparing these students for success beyond nursing school.

scholarly journals Pre-commencement interviews to support transition and retention of first year undergraduate students

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise Wood ◽  
Gillian Gray-Ganter ◽  
Robyn Bailey
Keyword(s):  
Student Retention ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Nursing Program ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Student Preparedness ◽  
Student Transition ◽  
Student Profile ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing ◽  
Critical Components

This paper reports the findings of a pilot study conducted at a regional university in Australia involving a pre-commencement interview strategy that aimed to better support first-year students transitioning into an undergraduate nursing program. The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of the approach and inform the development of more effective transition and retention strategies (STARS) at the institutional level. The study was informed by Kalsbeek’s (2013) ‘4 Ps’ framework for student retention, which identifies student profile, progress through their studies, university processes and alignment between a university’s promises and the student experience of its delivery on those promises as critical components of an all-of-institution approach to improving student retention and success. An additional ‘P’, preparedness, was identified as another important dimension, recognising that student preparedness for study is a vital component of an effective transition and retention strategy. The findings viewed through the lens of the expanded ‘5Ps’ framework highlight the potential of the approach as an institutional strategy for improving student transition, retention and success.  

Making it Work – A BSN Faculty’s Process of Curriculum Redesign

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Elliott ◽  
Glynda Rees ◽  
Eileen Shackell ◽  
Joan Walker
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Nursing Programs ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Nursing Program ◽  
Educational Strategies ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing ◽  
Curriculum Redesign ◽  
Helping Others ◽  
Curriculum Renewal

AbstractCurriculum renewal is an ongoing reality for all undergraduate nursing programs and is often a challenge for educators in preparing nursing students for practice. In response to constantly changing educational strategies, methodologies and knowledge, a BSN nursing program determined that a curriculum redesign was necessary. This article outlines a BSN faculty’s curriculum redesign process from the perspective of the Curriculum Development Team. The process of building a knowledge base, establishing a foundation, designing the curriculum, involving faculty and lessons learned are outlined. The process of redesigning the curriculum is shared with the aim of helping others who are engaging in curriculum redesign.

scholarly journals Exploring undergraduate nursing students’ experiences towards home-based learning as pedagogy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive qualitative exploration

BMC Nursing ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanan Hu ◽  
Jenna Qing Yun Ow Yong ◽  
Mui-Lee Cecilia Chng ◽  
Ziqiang Li ◽  
Yong-Shian Goh
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Nursing Program ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing Students ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Descriptive Qualitative

Abstract Background The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to the need for educators to explore online platforms in delivering lessons to students. Home-based learning is one of the most commonly-used teaching methods that allow learning to take place despite a physical separation between the students and the educators. Methods A descriptive qualitative approach was used to explore the experiences of nursing undergraduates when using home-based learning as a pedagogy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from twenty-three nursing students (n = 14 in year one; n = 9 in year two) of their full-time pre-registration nursing program in a public-funded university in Singapore. Semi-structured interviews using an interview guide was conducted through Zoom-based video-conferencing from November 2020 to January 2021. The interview lasted between 45 and 65 min (median = 45 min). Data collection took place concurrently with thematic analysis through Braun and Clarke’s six-step approach. This study was reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. Results Three main themes identified during the data analysis were: (1) challenges of home-based learning, where students detailed their experiences and difficulties encountered during the process; (2) the effectiveness of home-based learning, which explored the pedagogy’s impact on the students’ learning experience; and (3) students’ motivation to learn, where the effects on student morale and motivation in partaking in learning tasks were discussed. Conclusions Results from this study suggested that universities should incorporate more home-based learning opportunities as home-based learning to continue playing a crucial role in the foreseeable future. Universities should continue to incorporate more home-based learning opportunities into the existing nursing curriculaa in order to test their capacities and address technical challenges in online learning. Future studies should also consider incorporating other pedagogical strategies when conducting lessons online.

scholarly journals Introductory anatomy and physiology in an undergraduate nursing curriculum

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.J. Brown ◽  
S. White ◽  
N. Power
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Human Anatomy ◽  
High Achievers ◽  
First Year ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Anatomy And Physiology ◽  
Undergraduate Nursing ◽  
Human Anatomy And Physiology ◽  
High Achieving

Using an educational data mining approach, first-year academic achievement of undergraduate nursing students, which included two compulsory courses in introductory human anatomy and physiology, was compared with achievement in a final semester course that transitioned students into the workplace. We hypothesized that students could be grouped according to their first-year academic achievement using a two-step cluster analysis method and that grades achieved in the human anatomy and physiology courses would be strong predictors of overall achievement. One cohort that graduated in 2014 ( n = 105) and one that graduated in 2015 ( n = 94) were analyzed separately, and for both cohorts, two groups were identified, these being “high achievers” (HIGH) and “low achievers” (LOW). Consistently, the anatomy and physiology courses were the strongest predictors of group assignment, such that a good grade in these was much more likely to put a student into a high-achieving group. Students in the HIGH groups also scored higher in the Transition to Nursing course when compared with students in the LOW groups. The higher predictor importance of the anatomy and physiology courses suggested that if a first-year grade-point average was calculated for students, an increased weighting should be attributed to these courses. Identifying high-achieving students based on first-year academic scores may be a useful method to predict future academic performance.

scholarly journals Faculty perceptions of teaching information literacy to first-year students: A phenomenographic study

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 545-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorna Dawes
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Research University ◽  
Faculty Perceptions ◽  
Information Use ◽  
First Year ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Information Behaviors ◽  
Perceptions Of Teaching ◽  
Teaching Information

This study examines faculty perceptions of teaching information literacy and explores the influence of these perceptions on pedagogy. The study adopted an inductive phenomenographic approach, using 24 semi-structured interviews with faculty teaching first-year courses at an American public research university. The results of the study reveal four qualitative ways in which faculty experience teaching information use to first year students that vary within three themes of expanding awareness. The resulting outcome space revealed that faculty had two distinct conceptions of teaching information literacy: (1) Teaching to produce experienced consumers of information, and (2) Teaching to cultivate intelligent participants in discourse communities. When information experiences are intentional, and involve using and teaching information use while learning the discipline content, this becomes “informed learning”, which is a pedagogical construct developed by Christine Bruce (Bruce and Hughes, 2010) that involves experiencing information in new ways while learning disciplinary information behaviors and content. This study gives new insight into the nature of this “informed learning” in first-year college courses and reveals that faculty create cultures of inquiry in their classes and, in so doing, treat information literacy as central to their disciplines. In addition to providing a more substantial understanding of faculty perceptions of teaching information use, the study indicates that the new ACRL Framework for Information Literacy and the changes to SCONUL Framework reflect an approach to teaching information literacy that will be welcomed in the college classroom.

Attributes of a good nurse

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahime Aydin Er ◽  
Mine Sehiralti ◽  
Aslihan Akpinar
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Professional Competence ◽  
Nursing Program ◽  
First Year ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Survey Form ◽  
Good Nurse ◽  
Material Values

Background: The opinions of students regarding the attributes of a good nurse can make a major contribution to the planning and the conducting of professional education. There are few studies which aim at identifying the qualifications of a good nurse from the perspectives of nursing students. Objectives: To determine the opinions of first- and fourth-year nursing students concerning the ‘attributes of a good nurse’, and whether and how their views change depending on their year of study. Research design: Descriptive research. Participants and research context: This study was conducted in the nursing department of a vocational school of health in the 2010/2011 academic year. The study participants consisted of first-year and intern students. A survey form was used to identify characteristics of participants, and students were asked the following open-ended question about their opinions related to the attributes of a good nurse. Ethical considerations: The permission was taken from the school administration. Informed consent was obtained, and anonymity was ensured for participating students. Findings: A total of 120 students participated in this study. Most frequently expressed attributes were ‘professional competence’ in first-year and ‘responsibility’ in fourth-year students. While first-year students placed a greater emphasis on the attributes of ‘geniality’, ‘patience’, ‘calmness’, ‘love of nursing’, ‘loyalty to nursing’ and ‘not attaching importance to material values’, fourth-year students emphasized the attributes of ‘empathy’, ‘honesty’, ‘responsibility’ and ‘scientific curiosity’ significantly more. Discussion and conclusion: Fourth-year students placed a greater emphasis on the attributes which the students are expected to acquire through a nursing program and clinical experience. However, they mentioned the attributes related to a good nurse–patient relationship and communication significantly less. Appropriate ethical training methods and good role models can help students acquire attributes that are important for the nursing profession and combine them with the attributes they already have.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document