Return to search

Socialisation of nurses : teaching and learning in hospital wards

The study was conducted in two general hospitals. The aim was to describe and analyse teaching/learning situations occurring in hospital wards, and to identify the characteristics of a 'good' learning environment. Designed in two stages, the research focused on two groups - ward sisters and learners. Part I comprises an introduction, a brief statement of the system of nurse training, a review of the literature relating to nurse education since 1919, and a discussion of theory relevant to the social order in the hospital ward. Part II describes methods and results of the first stage of the research. Part III describes methods and results of the second stage. A variety of methods was used. In the first stage wards were ranked retrospectively by using perceptual data from a sample of learners, and ward sisters were intervieWed. In the second stage, observations were conducted in three pairs of high and low ranked wards from three specialities. Activity sampling provided an overview of ward organisation, and learners were interviewed about a sample of observed activities, in order to find out how they perceived their work, and to detect 'covert' as well as 'overt' teaching. Categories of teaching and learning were derived from responses. Teaching and learning varied between wards. The results showed that activities that were perceived as being important for education were technical rather than basic. More teaching took place during technical activities. Sisters varied in the way they fulfilled their teaching and management roles. It is argued that a traditional model of nursing, dominated by hierarchy and routine, inhibits learning. The ideal environment is anti-hierarchical, and key characteristics are teamwork, negotiation and good communication. There is a team of teachers, trained nurses are available and approachable ani [sic] the sister makes a conscious effort to make teaching a reality.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:455987
Date January 1978
CreatorsFretwell, Joan Elizabeth
PublisherUniversity of Warwick
Source SetsEthos UK
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Sourcehttp://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/71207/

Page generated in 0.0023 seconds