Conceptions of clinical learning among stakeholders involved in undergraduate nursing education: a phenomenographic study

Phenomenography: An emerging qualitative research design for nursing

BACKGROUND

Phenomenography emerged from pedagogy to examine the qualitatively different ways that individuals experience and perceive the same phenomenon. Despite its uniqueness, the uptake of phenomenography in nursing research is still limited. Potentially, this may be related to confusion regarding what the design is about, its philosophical underpinnings and how distinct it is from other qualitative designs.

OBJECTIVES

To offer a better understanding of phenomenography by comparing it with other established qualitative research designs, examining its theoretical foundations, highlighting some studies that have employed the approach in nursing and offering methodological guidance to improve its uptake in nursing.

DESIGN

Discussion paper.

FINDINGS

Compared to the traditional qualitative designs employed in nursing, phenomenography has been utilized in fewer studies. The ontological, epistemological and methodological basis of phenomenography highlights it as a distinct design. The strength of phenomenography lies in its emphasis on understanding the collective variations between participants and presenting these holistically as an 'outcome space'.

DISCUSSION

Phenomenography is a distinct qualitative research approach that presents a unique opportunity for nursing to further its use. Issues regarding bracketing, the inclusion of phenomenography studies in qualitative meta-synthesis and employing a hermeneutic approach to phenomenography are avenues for further work in nursing.

PATIENT AND PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

Symbolic access: medical students' awareness of institutional culture and its influence on learning, a phenomenographic study

BACKGROUND

The discussion of access in medical education has its focus largely on physical and epistemological access, leaving a qualitative gap regarding sociocultural factors which enable access in this context. This study introduces and defines symbolic access, a concept with a specific lens on sociocultural inclusion, and the influence it has on student learning within the South African medical education landscape.

METHODS

A phenomenographic design was used to explore students' conceptions of symbolic access and its impact on learning. One-on-one exploratory interviews were conducted with fifteen final year medical students at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Interviews were analysed using Sjöström and Dahlgren's seven-step phenomenography model.

RESULTS

Four categories of description were induced, which described students' understanding of symbolic access, these were rejection, disregard, invalidation, and actualization. Four dimensions of variation were discovered expressing the diversity of events which informed the collectives' understanding of the phenomenon. These dimensions were; interactions with educators, peer relationships, educational environment, and race. Categories of description and dimensions of variation formed the Outcome Space, a visual representation of the student experience of symbolic access. The outcome space had a double narrative related to symbolic access; exclusion (major) and actualization (minor). Medical student's chief experience within the medical community was exclusion, however clinical immersion, meaningful participation, peer-relationships, and clinical skills lessons facilitated community enculturation, and impacted learning.

CONCLUSION

Despite deeply exclusionary experiences throughout their programme, medical students articulated a paradox of both awareness and no awareness of symbolic access. The awareness of symbolic access was predominantly influenced by clinical experiences and clinical immersion during the pre-clinical and clinical years of study. Further, descriptions of valuable learning experiences were connected to clinical events and the involvement with patient care. This study suggests that the actualization of symbolic access and description of meaningful learning experiences are linked. Medical educationalists should design undergraduate curricula with early clinical immersion at the fore and explore symbolic concepts pertaining to access, as they are linked to transformative learning experiences for the medical student.

Basic psychological needs satisfaction as a mediator between clinical learning climate, self-regulated learning and perceived learning in the nursing education context

PURPOSE

Self-regulated learning (SRL) can enhance students' learning process. Students need support to effectively regulate their learning. However, the effect of learning climate on SRL behavior, its ultimate effect on learning and the underlying mechanisms have not yet been established. We explored these relationships using self-determination theory.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nursing students (N = 244) filled in questionnaires about SRL behavior, perceived learning, perceived pedagogical atmosphere and Basic Psychological Needs (BPN) satisfaction after their clinical placement. Structural equation modelling was used to test a model in which perceived pedagogical atmosphere affects SRL behavior and subsequent perceived learning through BPN satisfaction.

RESULTS

The tested model had an adequate fit (RMSEA = 0.080, SRMR = 0.051; CFI = 0.972; TLI = 0.950). A positively perceived pedagogical atmosphere contributed to SRL behavior, which was fully explained by BPN satisfaction. SRL partially mediated the contribution of pedagogical atmosphere/BPN to perceived learning.

CONCLUSIONS

A learning climate that satisfies students' BPN contributes to their SRL behavior. SRL behavior plays a positive but modest role in the relationship between climate and perceived learning. Without a culture that is supportive of learning, implementation of tools to apply SRL behavior may not be effective. Study limitations include reliance on self-report scales and the inclusion of a single discipline.

Anesthesiologists' conceptions of learning anesthesia in the context of their specialty training program: a phenomenographic study

BACKGROUND

Training anesthesiologists poses challenges and complexities, particularly in defining and teaching excellence in anesthesia. Existing anesthesia curricula primarily emphasize the acquisition of knowledge, practical skills, and professional competencies, often neglecting the development of intangible skills like tacit knowledge. Despite efforts to establish learning goals through carefully describing competencies, there is a risk of oversimplifying the intricate aspects of professional anesthesia practice. Therefore, the objective of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the genuine curriculum of a specialty training program in anesthesia. This will be achieved by exploring the perceptions of learners with different levels of experience within the program.

METHODS

This study employs a phenomenographic research approach to explore the conceptions of anesthesiology trainees and specialists, specifically from a student's perspective, regarding what constitutes an excellent anesthesiologist i.e., what to learn, and the learning process associated with it.

RESULTS

This study identified three different conceptions of learning anesthesia within the context of a specialty training program: "Learning Competencies of Anesthesia," "Learning Work as an Anesthesiologist" and "Learning Being an Anesthesiology Professional." These conceptions ranged from a relatively instrumental view of education and self-responsibility for learning to a perspective of continuous personal reflection and development integrated with professional interaction. The three conceptions can be described in six dimensions describing the variation in approach to learning and the conceptualization of an anesthesiologist. Relationships between the conceptions and the dimensions were represented in a descriptive framework, showing the hierarchy of increasing understanding.

CONCLUSION

This study has uncovered diverse learner perspectives among anesthesiologists at various experience levels concerning their understanding of the role of an anesthesiologist and the associated learning process. These distinct understandings can be categorized into different groups and presented in a descriptive framework that encapsulates the fundamental elements and important educational aspects of an anesthesiologist's progression through a specialty training program in anesthesia. By recognizing and integrating these diverse perspectives, anesthesia education can be enhanced, ultimately resulting in improved preparation of future anesthesia curriculum, teaching and assessments.

Learning in and across communities of practice: health professions education students' learning from boundary crossing

Learning to adapt to new contexts is crucial in health professions education (HPE). Boundaries between and within contexts challenge continuity in students' learning processes. Little is known about how HPE students can make these "boundary experiences" productive for learning. We investigated how and what nursing students learn from boundary experiences while they are simultaneously growing into a community of practice (CoP). Using a boundary-crossing lens, experiences of discontinuity were identified in pre-placement and post-placement interviews and diary fragments with 14 nursing students during their placement in an academic hospital. We found that students experience discontinuity as a result of different approaches to nursing care and to learning, both between (academic and clinical) settings and within a setting. When students feel safe enough, they can convert boundary experiences into meaningful learning situations, such as critical discussions with staff. Successfully overcoming boundary experiences improves students' understanding of healthcare and professional development and helps them to develop a personal approach to learning. Students critically address boundary experiences when they are motivated to learn and when they perceive a violation of ethical standards but not when they are concerned that it will affect their assessment. Objects designed to bridge theory and practice can generate additional barriers. This study adds to the HPE literature by demonstrating the learning potential of boundaries and to the broader literature by showing how responses to boundary experiences are intertwined with the process of growing into a CoP. The findings can be used to design future boundary objects.

Clinical learning opportunity in public academic hospitals: A concept analysis

BACKGROUND

Clinical learning opportunities (CLO) are vital educational encounters occurring in various clinical areas to provide the student nurses with clinical knowledge and experiences to develop their competencies for professional practice. However, CLO is a broad concept with varied characteristics that allow ambiguity, limiting its understanding and use. Its ambiguous nature leads to uncertainties and poor development of the required clinical attributes of successful theory to practice integration, higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) and clinical competencies.

AIM

The aim of the study was to explore and describe the conceptual meaning of CLO, have a clear understanding and insight into the concept and identify the antecedents and consequences for pragmatic purposes.

SETTING

The study took place in a public academic hospital in Gauteng.

METHODS

The eight steps of concept analysis by Walker and Avant were followed. Multiple data sources not limited to nursing were explored and critically analysed for the definitions, characteristics, nature and uses of CLO from different fields of study.

RESULTS

The defining attributes of CLO were identified, namely the context, antecedents, processes, consequences and outcomes. The context within which CLO occurs was dynamic, multidimensional, real-life healthcare settings; antecedents included planning of clinical placement, provision of learning outcomes and consideration of the cognitive level of the students. Engagement and active participation in collaborative, problem-based learning activities, community-based research and the use of emerging technologies were the processes identified. The outcomes were autonomous, confident, competent professional nurses with critical thinking, clinical reasoning, judgement, critical decision making and problem-solving skills.

CONCLUSION

A theoretical and operational definition of CLO was developed. The findings and results of concept analysis identified and specified the defining attributes of clinical learning opportunity. The findings can assist nurse educators, Clinical Education and Teaching Unit (CETU) personnel and operational managers to enhance CLO for student nurses to achieve their clinical learning goals and outcomes. The evaluation tools that may be adopted to assess the acquired clinical skills were also identified.

CONTRIBUTION

An increase in the existing body of knowledge in nursing education, considering that enhancing the CLO exposes students to various clinical experiences contributing to their development of clinical competencies to solve complex problems. The strategies to enhance the CLO will be developed, which may also provide vital information for policy development. Conceptualisation of the findings to nursing practice and quality patient care will be integrated into relevant literature.

Development and Assessment of Professional Competences among Polish Nursing Students during a 3-Year Education Cycle Trying

The essence of the profile of nursing professional competences are basic behavioral characteristics, as well as mastering practical skills. The aim of this study was determination of the development of professional competences of perceiving a patient by first-, second-and third-year students of licentiate nursing study. The study was of a longitudinal character, and lasted for 3 years. The research instrument used was the Ascent to Competence Scale, and traditional assessment of students’ knowledge and skills. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the average grade in practical education from all three years, and competences in student–teacher relationship. Higher grades in theoretical education were accompanied by lower results obtained by students in the area of nursing competences. The respondents’ opinions concerning the development of knowledge and professional skills were relatively high among first-year students, which may be related with a sharp increase in nursing knowledge, whereas third-year students considered it important to perceive a considerable development of professional competences. The results of this study can help in the design of education programs meeting quality standards, and alignment with students and population health needs, which is adequate to the assumptions of the WHO Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021–2025.

A phenomenographic study exploring the conceptions of stakeholders on their teaching and learning roles in nursing education

BACKGROUND

Nursing education involves a number of stakeholders in the teaching and learning process, and these are student nurses, lecturers, clinical instructors and nurses. The role that each of these parties play in the teaching and learning process is dependent on each other and is key to the development of competence among student nurses. However, there is scanty literature on the discourse of how these stakeholders conceptualise their roles to maximise student learning. The objective of this study was to explore the conceptions of stakeholders on their teaching and learning roles in nursing education.

METHODS

Thirty-eight semi-structured interviews and three focus group discussions were conducted with nursing students, lecturers, clinical educators at a Namibian nursing college and nurses at teaching hospitals. Phenomenographic data analysis approach was applied.

RESULTS

Four conceptions were constructed that described the level of involvement of the different parties in teaching and learning. These were initiating, supporting, becoming part of and owning the teaching and learning role. Three dimensions of variation marked the differences among the conceptions: responsibility and accountability, priorities and level of collaboration.

CONCLUSIONS

The parties involved in the teaching and learning in nursing education have qualitatively different understating of their roles and those of others. There is a pattern transcending from being at the periphery of teaching and learning to taking ownership of teaching and learning. And a movement from limited responsibility and collaboration to that of being responsible, accountable and high level of collaboration in the teaching and learning of nursing students. The conceptions in this study add more ways of enhancing collaboration between theoretical and clinical sites in nursing education, by ensuring that those involved are aware of their role and that of others and work collaboratively at the micro-level.