Preparing to care : creating a culture of caring in problem based learning tutorial groups

The purpose of this study was to explore with fourth year nursing baccalaureate students, their perceptions of experiences of caring using ethnographic design, and examine the phenomenon of caring and whether the development of caring relationships occurs among students and faculty members. Furthermore, the study sought to understand how nursing students perceive these relationships as influential in their learning, and ability to cope with stress. The sample consisted of ten fourth year nursing students who volunteered to be interviewed as well as one focus group of seven faculty members. The major findings of the study illuminated five general constructs: (1) The caring art of nursing in large part is a way of being in the world, an attitude that is inherent in the personality; (2) the caring science of nurse doing can indeed be taught and learned; (3) non-caring behaviors, experiences and relationships negatively impact the learning environment and therefore the learning outcomes for students; (4) Problem Based Learning (PBL) method cultivates a safe and caring learning environment; (5) caring is valued by students and positively impacts their educational experience, including learning outcomes, clinical experiences and their ability to cope with stress. The findings of the study may be utilized as a component of faculty growth and development as well as internal curriculum review.

Authors

• Oosterbroek, Tracy
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Health Sciences

• Nursing -- Study and teaching
• Problem-based learning
• Caring
• Nursing -- Philosophy
• Teacher-student relationships
• Dissertations, Academic

Identifier

hdl:10133/1295

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/1295