Teaching and Learning of Clinical Competence in Ghana: Experiences of Students and Post-Registration Nurses
Despite the growing demand for competent nurses to fill the shortage gap, nursing education institutions have not always been able to equip students with the requisite clinical competence needed in the practice setting. Several studies have described the experiences of undergraduate nursing students...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/3/538 |
| _version_ | 1797471233792540672 |
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| author | David Abdulai Salifu Yolande Heymans Christmal Dela Christmals |
| author_facet | David Abdulai Salifu Yolande Heymans Christmal Dela Christmals |
| author_sort | David Abdulai Salifu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite the growing demand for competent nurses to fill the shortage gap, nursing education institutions have not always been able to equip students with the requisite clinical competence needed in the practice setting. Several studies have described the experiences of undergraduate nursing students in the clinical learning environment. No study was found on the experiences of diploma nursing students and post-registration nurses regarding the teaching and learning of clinical competence in Ghana. This study, therefore, sought to describe the experiences and perceptions of diploma nursing students and post-registration nurses regarding the teaching and learning of clinical competence in Ghana. A qualitative descriptive research design was employed in this study. Fifty-five (55) participants, comprising 40 students and 15 post-registration diploma nurses, from six research sites were recruited into focus group discussions (FGDs) using a maximum variation purposive sampling technique. A thematic framework method was used to analyze the data with the aid of ATLAS.ti software. Three themes emerged from the focus group discussions: nursing education institutional factors; clinical placement design, implementation, and system challenges; challenges of clinical teaching and learning. We conclude that the current approach to clinical nursing education, such as the overreliance on clinical placement and the use of more teacher-centered teaching approaches, are ineffective in facilitating the development of clinical competence. A review of the nursing curriculum, inculcating evidence-based simulation modalities, and an adequate investment in nursing education may be required to ensure effective nursing education in the study setting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:46:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e47e49c89274b0ba9c325e1a21d9653 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:46:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e47e49c89274b0ba9c325e1a21d96532023-11-24T01:23:09ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322022-03-0110353810.3390/healthcare10030538Teaching and Learning of Clinical Competence in Ghana: Experiences of Students and Post-Registration NursesDavid Abdulai Salifu0Yolande Heymans1Christmal Dela Christmals2Centre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroo Campus, Building PC-G16, Office 101,11 Hoffman St., Potchefstroom 2520, South AfricaCentre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroo Campus, Building PC-G16, Office 101,11 Hoffman St., Potchefstroom 2520, South AfricaCentre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroo Campus, Building PC-G16, Office 101,11 Hoffman St., Potchefstroom 2520, South AfricaDespite the growing demand for competent nurses to fill the shortage gap, nursing education institutions have not always been able to equip students with the requisite clinical competence needed in the practice setting. Several studies have described the experiences of undergraduate nursing students in the clinical learning environment. No study was found on the experiences of diploma nursing students and post-registration nurses regarding the teaching and learning of clinical competence in Ghana. This study, therefore, sought to describe the experiences and perceptions of diploma nursing students and post-registration nurses regarding the teaching and learning of clinical competence in Ghana. A qualitative descriptive research design was employed in this study. Fifty-five (55) participants, comprising 40 students and 15 post-registration diploma nurses, from six research sites were recruited into focus group discussions (FGDs) using a maximum variation purposive sampling technique. A thematic framework method was used to analyze the data with the aid of ATLAS.ti software. Three themes emerged from the focus group discussions: nursing education institutional factors; clinical placement design, implementation, and system challenges; challenges of clinical teaching and learning. We conclude that the current approach to clinical nursing education, such as the overreliance on clinical placement and the use of more teacher-centered teaching approaches, are ineffective in facilitating the development of clinical competence. A review of the nursing curriculum, inculcating evidence-based simulation modalities, and an adequate investment in nursing education may be required to ensure effective nursing education in the study setting.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/3/538clinical competenceclinical nursing educationGhanaqualitative descriptivesimulation |
| spellingShingle | David Abdulai Salifu Yolande Heymans Christmal Dela Christmals Teaching and Learning of Clinical Competence in Ghana: Experiences of Students and Post-Registration Nurses Healthcare clinical competence clinical nursing education Ghana qualitative descriptive simulation |
| title | Teaching and Learning of Clinical Competence in Ghana: Experiences of Students and Post-Registration Nurses |
| title_full | Teaching and Learning of Clinical Competence in Ghana: Experiences of Students and Post-Registration Nurses |
| title_fullStr | Teaching and Learning of Clinical Competence in Ghana: Experiences of Students and Post-Registration Nurses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Teaching and Learning of Clinical Competence in Ghana: Experiences of Students and Post-Registration Nurses |
| title_short | Teaching and Learning of Clinical Competence in Ghana: Experiences of Students and Post-Registration Nurses |
| title_sort | teaching and learning of clinical competence in ghana experiences of students and post registration nurses |
| topic | clinical competence clinical nursing education Ghana qualitative descriptive simulation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/3/538 |
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