Department of Advanced Nursing Science / MCur

Department of Advanced Nursing Science / MCur

MCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / See the attached abstract below

MCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / Nursing students’ absenteeism has become a very serious concern in every higher educational institution in the whole world especially those of nursing. This study was conducted to investigate factors leading to student nurses’ absenteeism in Limpopo College of Nursing during Psychiatric Nursing Science clinical placement. A quantitative approach using descriptive design was used. Purposive sampling method was used to get a sample of two hundred and six (206) of students who have absented themselves before. Data was collected through a self-report scale in the form of questionnaires of structured questions, entered and analysed using SPSS version 24. Ethical considerations were adhered to throughout. The correlation between clinical factors and absenteeism was determined. The main reported factors for absenteeism were: student nurses being treated as a workforce in the clinical areas; shortage of staff in the clinical areas; study for tests and examinations; inadequate supervision of student nurses by professional nurses; and being inconsiderate of student nurses request for days off in the clinical area. This study recommends that the college should make a provision of one week of study for student nurses between the period of clinical placement and tests or final examinations as most of the respondents indicated that they absent themselves due to study for tests and examinations. The Department of Health should find a way of not overworking students due to shortage of staff in the wards but consider them for experiential learning. A research study should be conducted to develop a model to reduce student nurses absenteeism. / NRF

PhDH / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / Introduction and background Professional nurses are responsible to supervise student nurses in the clinical areas in order to assist them in achieving the learning outcomes, develop clinical skills and competence; however, this role is overlooked as pinned to different factors influencing clinical supervision, including the related challenges regarding supervision. This study aimed to explore and describe professional nurses’ and student nurses’ perceptions of clinical supervision in training hospitals of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Research methodology The study used convergent parallel mixed methods design. The population in this study was professional nurses and student nurses working in seven training hospitals of Mopani and Vhembe district of Limpopo Province. Purposive sampling was used to sample districts, hospitals and student nurses whereas, convenience sampling was used to sample professional nurses. Self-administered questionnaires and focus group interviews were used in data collection. Quantitative data was v analysed using Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS), version 22.0 and Tesch’s’ method was used to analyse qualitative data. Findings Perceptions of professional nurses and student nurses revealed several factors influencing supervision and challenges such as staff shortages, high number of student nurses allocated in clinical areas, heavy workload, inadequate material resources, poor communication and inadequate support. The findings were used in formulation of clinical supervision guidelines. Recommendations The recommendations of this study were based on the study findings. Intervention on the challenges of clinical supervision is recommended by utilisation of the formulated guidelines. This will assist in closing the existing gap regarding clinical supervision. / NRF

Background: Challenges in thesis proposal writing have resulted in doctoral students dropping from research studies resulting in the shortage of doctoral prepared nurses. Impediments include lack of human and non-human resources. Benner’s theory of novice to expert formed the basis for the development of the strategic intervention and action plan to address the challenges and strengths experienced by master’s prepared doctoral students during thesis proposal writing Purpose: The purpose of this research was to develop a strategic intervention and action plan that can be used to assist doctoral students to succeed in thesis proposal writing. Methods: An exploratory mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis in four phases was used. In Phase 1 qualitative data from two open-ended questions were used to gather data, combined with literature to develop a questionnaire for Phase 2. A questionnaire was developed from data obtained from Phase 2 as well as a thorough literature review to develop the strategic intervention and Action plan. In Phase 4 the strategic intervention and action plan was validated using the Delphi technique and experts acted as panellists for the validation. Framework: Benner’s novice to expert theoretical framework was adopted for the study because of the assumption that doctoral students need a change of perception and assistance in order to develop critical thinking skills that will enhance the development of research competencies. This framework was used because of its relevance to the study. Research Findings: Competence in doctoral thesis proposal writing is affected by human resources as well as non-human resources. The identified strategic interventions that were included in the action plan were: recruitment of competent supervisors, training and mentoring of new supervisors, achieving of a realistic student/supervisor ratio for supervision of students, timely allocation of supervisors, recruiting of subject librarians and employment of adequate library support, provision of peer support programmes, implementation of a student recruitment and selection plan, provision of student support programmes to enhance research skills and competencies, binding contracts to stipulate students responsibility, provision of adequate research resources, and implementation of a bursary system among others. Conclusion: The strategic intervention and action plan was developed using the input of doctoral nursing students who were in the process of completing their thesis proposal and a thorough literature review. The inclusion of the deans of nursing of universities and universities of technology of South Africa (FUNDISA) will enhance the possibility for the implementation of the strategic intervention and action plan which can contribute to assisting the master’s prepared doctoral students to successfully transition from novice students with little or no research knowledge to competent thesis proposal writers. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Hispanics continue to be the fastest growing minority population in the Nation. According to U.S. Census Bureau (2011; 2008)., the Hispanic or Latino population was 16.3 percent in 2010 and is projected to be over 30 percent in 2050. However, only 3.6% of the RN population is Hispanic indicating an unrealistic representation of today's diversity in nursing (U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and better understand how Hispanic nurses perceive their community college associate degree in nursing (ADN) program experience. More specifically, this study described, analyzed, and interpreted the experiences of Hispanic nurses with an emphasis on retention. Using a phenomenology approach, six Hispanic nurses who completed an ADN program interviewed separately. Sources of data included audio-recorded interviews, note-taking, and written journals. Data analysis followed Moustakas' modification of the Van Kaam method of phenomenological data. Four common themes emerged from data: financial challenges, fear of failing, supports and supporters, and role model. Findings from this study contributed to a deeper understanding of the way in which Hispanic nurses have perceived their educational experiences and how those experiences have influenced their beliefs and practices overall. The findings offer data to researchers who are addressing the epidemic problem of the nursing shortage and the lack of diversity in the nursing profession.

Problématique : La relation infirmière-personne est au cœur de la discipline et de la profession infirmière. Dans les modèles actuels de formation en approche par compétences, l’acquisition des ressources nécessaires à cette relation ne fait pas consensus et les perceptions des étudiantes n’ont pas été explorées. Objectif : Comprendre les perceptions d’étudiantes infirmières quant à l’acquisition des ressources nécessaires à la relation infirmière-personne au cours de leur formation au baccalauréat. Méthode : Cette recherche qualitative-descriptive a permis de mener quatre groupes focalisés auprès de 20 étudiantes des trois années du baccalauréat en sciences infirmières de l’Université de Montréal. Une analyse thématique inspirée de Paillé et Mucchielli (2021) a été réalisée à deux niveaux d’inférence différents. Résultats : Trois thèmes ont été identifiés : 1) la conception des étudiantes concernant la relation infirmière-personne, 2) les ressources internes et 3) les ressources externes. La conception des étudiantes se construit sur la place centrale donnée à la relation infirmière-personne, un idéal de pratique, notamment ancré sur le partenariat-patient, et des facteurs influençant cette relation. Les émotions et les expériences antérieures font partie des ressources internes. Enfin, les outils d’apprentissage et les modèles de rôles sont des ressources externes. Un diagramme permet de représenter les thèmes formant une compétence à part entière. Recommandations : Les résultats invitent les infirmières à remettre la relation infirmière-personne au cœur de leurs préoccupations. Ils encouragent particulièrement les responsables de formation à adopter des curriculums permettant de visibiliser la relation infirmière-personne et les ressources qu’elle mobilise. / Background: The nurse-patient relationship is at the heart of the nursing discipline and profession. In current models of competency-based education, the acquisition of necessary resources for this relationship is not a matter of consensus and students' perceptions were not explored. Aims: To understand the perceptions of nursing students regarding the acquisition of resources necessary for the nurse-patient relationship during their baccalaureate training. Design: This qualitative-descriptive research was conducted in four focus-groups with 20 students from the three years of the Nursing Baccalaureate program at the Université de Montréal. A thematic analysis inspired by Paillé and Mucchielli (2021) was conducted at two different levels of inference. Results: Three themes were identified: 1) students' conception of the nurse-patient relationship, 2) internal resources and 3) external resources. The students' conception is built on the centrality of the nurse-patient relationship, an ideal of practice, notably anchored on the patient-partnership, and factors influencing this relationship. Emotions and previous experiences are part of the internal resources. Finally, learning tools and role-models are external resources. A diagram represents the themes that form a competence. Recommendations: The results invite all nurses to put the nurse-patient relationship back at the heart of their concerns. They particularly encourage those responsible for education to adopt curricula that make the nurse-patient relationship and the resources it mobilizes visible.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The nursing shortage has reached unprecedented levels in the United States. In a response to meet current educational needs and demands to recruit, retain, and expand enrollment of students in baccalaureate programs in nursing, the growth of online education has been dramatic. As growth continues, graduation rates and program retention are a concern. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between student motivation, academic context, cost-benefit appraisal, and intent to persist in RNBS completion online programs. The conceptual model used in this study was Student Online Academic Persistence a researcher developed model which is primarily based on the work of Tinto, Bean & Metzner, and Rosenbaum. Research questions: 1. Among students enrolled in RNBS completion online programs, do motivation and context predict cost-benefit appraisal? 2. Among students enrolled in RNBS completion online programs, what is the relationship between cost-benefit appraisal and intent to persist in the program? Data were collected via a Web-based self-report questionnaire and subjected to descriptive and inferential analyses which included the use of linear regression and correlations. From a population of 3606 students from three schools of nursing who were enrolled in an RNBS completion online program, 704 usable surveys were returned, with a response rate of 19%. Technology self-efficacy correlated positively with goal orientation, goal commitment, satisfaction with institution and faculty, cost-benefit appraisal and intent to persist. Goal commitment to the program and satisfaction with institution were found to be important in the persistence of students. A continual decision making process involving cost-benefit appraisal was also found to impact student intention to persist in the program of study. Recommendations for faculty include assuring student technology self-efficacy and developing an online transition course designed to normalize the experience of adults engaging in online education. Future research which further tests the Student Academic Online Persistence model and explores the lived experience of the online student is suggested.

Dans l’optique de perfectionner l’utilisation de la simulation clinique, il importe de se questionner sur la qualité des débriefings et surtout sur la perception qu’en ont les étudiant(e)s. L’outil le plus utilisé à cet effet est le Debriefing Experience Scale (DES; Reed, 2012) qui évalue l’expérience et l’importance du débriefing selon les étudiant(e)s. Cet outil n’est pas disponible en français et il est essentiel qu’il soit adapté au contexte et à la population auprès de qui on souhaite l’utiliser. Le but de cette étude a été de traduire en français, adapter au contexte québécois et valider le contenu du DES (Reed, 2012). Selon les recommandations de Sousa et Rojjanasrirat (2011), le DES a été traduit en français et rétrotraduit en anglais pour obtenir une version française, le DES-FR. La pertinence et la clarté de ses énoncés ont été évaluées par 10 expert(e)s en simulation clinique. Un échantillon de convenance de 29 étudiant(e)s en sciences infirmières a été sollicité pour évaluer la clarté des énoncés de l’outil. Les résultats indiquent que le DES-FR a un indice de validité de contenu global (IVC-S) de 0,93 selon les expert(e)s, suggérant une bonne validité de contenu, ainsi qu’un indice de clarté global (IC-S) de 0,96, soutenant qu’il est dans son ensemble clair selon l’échantillon étudiant. Le DES-FR est le premier outil en français présentant une validité de contenu et adapté au contexte de formation québécois qui permettra d’obtenir des données sur la qualité des débriefings selon la perspective étudiante. / To further improve the use of clinical simulations, it is crucial to question the quality of debriefings, especially students’ perceptions of them. The most used tool for this purpose is the Debriefing Experience Scale (DES; Reed, 2012), which assesses the experience and importance of debriefing for nursing students. The DES (Reed, 2012) is not available in French, and it must be congruent with the context and population it is intended to be used. This study aimed to translate into French, adapt to the Quebec educational context, and validate the content of the DES (Reed, 2012). For the method, we followed Sousa and Rojjanasrirat (2011) guidelines. Thus, the DES (Reed, 2012) was translated into French and back-translated into English to obtain a French version, the DES-FR. Ten clinical simulation experts assessed the French version for item relevance and clarity. In total, 29 nursing students evaluated the DES-FR item clarity. According to the experts, the DES-FR has an overall content validity index (S-CVI) of 0.93, suggesting good content validity. The overall scale’s clarity index (S-CI) reached 0.96, supporting that the content of the DES-FR is clear according to nursing students. The DES-FR is the first content-validated French tool adapted to the Quebec educational context that will provide data on the quality of debriefings from the student perspective.