Communication in mental health nursing - Bachelor Students' appraisal of a blended learning training programme - an exploratory study

Abstract Background It is important that mental health nursing students at Bachelor level obtain effective communication skills. Many students dread the fact that in the mental health field they will encounter patients and relatives with various backgrounds and personalities. Large classes and limit...

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Main Authors: Merete Furnes, Kari Sofie Kvaal, Sevald Høye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-05-01
Series:BMC Nursing
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12912-018-0288-9
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author Merete Furnes
Kari Sofie Kvaal
Sevald Høye
author_facet Merete Furnes
Kari Sofie Kvaal
Sevald Høye
author_sort Merete Furnes
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background It is important that mental health nursing students at Bachelor level obtain effective communication skills. Many students dread the fact that in the mental health field they will encounter patients and relatives with various backgrounds and personalities. Large classes and limited teaching resources in nursing education are challenging. To prepare students for mental health nursing practice, a communication skills course based on the blended learning method was developed and carried out at two different campuses. The aim of the study is to explore Bachelor nursing students’ appraisal of blended learning methods for enhancing communication skills in mental health nursing. Methods This study employed an exploratory design. Teaching and information materials were available on the learning management system (LMS). Videotaped role play training was carried out in the Simulation Department. Data were collected after the course by means of a questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions. The response rate was 59.2%. Quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and the Kruskal Wallis test, while qualitative data were analysed by content analysis based on Graneheim and Lundman’s approach. Results No impact of background variables was observed. Students appreciated teachers’ participation in role play and immediate feedback was considered especially important for learning outcomes. The students perceived that their communication skills and knowledge had improved after completing the blended learning programme. Conclusions According to the nursing students, blended learning is an appropriate method for improving communication skills in preparation for mental health nursing. Blended learning makes it possible to build flexible courses with limited resources.
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spelling doaj.art-9b2d0a3d923a4211910257bd35c1b0072022-12-21T18:58:28ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552018-05-0117111010.1186/s12912-018-0288-9Communication in mental health nursing - Bachelor Students' appraisal of a blended learning training programme - an exploratory studyMerete Furnes0Kari Sofie Kvaal1Sevald Høye2Faculty of Health and Social Services, Inland Norway University of Applied SciencesFaculty of Health and Social Services, Inland Norway University of Applied SciencesFaculty of Health and Social Services, Inland Norway University of Applied SciencesAbstract Background It is important that mental health nursing students at Bachelor level obtain effective communication skills. Many students dread the fact that in the mental health field they will encounter patients and relatives with various backgrounds and personalities. Large classes and limited teaching resources in nursing education are challenging. To prepare students for mental health nursing practice, a communication skills course based on the blended learning method was developed and carried out at two different campuses. The aim of the study is to explore Bachelor nursing students’ appraisal of blended learning methods for enhancing communication skills in mental health nursing. Methods This study employed an exploratory design. Teaching and information materials were available on the learning management system (LMS). Videotaped role play training was carried out in the Simulation Department. Data were collected after the course by means of a questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions. The response rate was 59.2%. Quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and the Kruskal Wallis test, while qualitative data were analysed by content analysis based on Graneheim and Lundman’s approach. Results No impact of background variables was observed. Students appreciated teachers’ participation in role play and immediate feedback was considered especially important for learning outcomes. The students perceived that their communication skills and knowledge had improved after completing the blended learning programme. Conclusions According to the nursing students, blended learning is an appropriate method for improving communication skills in preparation for mental health nursing. Blended learning makes it possible to build flexible courses with limited resources.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12912-018-0288-9Blended learningRole playCommunication skillsMental health nursingVideoFeed-back
spellingShingle Merete Furnes
Kari Sofie Kvaal
Sevald Høye
Communication in mental health nursing - Bachelor Students' appraisal of a blended learning training programme - an exploratory study
BMC Nursing
Blended learning
Role play
Communication skills
Mental health nursing
Video
Feed-back
title Communication in mental health nursing - Bachelor Students' appraisal of a blended learning training programme - an exploratory study
title_full Communication in mental health nursing - Bachelor Students' appraisal of a blended learning training programme - an exploratory study
title_fullStr Communication in mental health nursing - Bachelor Students' appraisal of a blended learning training programme - an exploratory study
title_full_unstemmed Communication in mental health nursing - Bachelor Students' appraisal of a blended learning training programme - an exploratory study
title_short Communication in mental health nursing - Bachelor Students' appraisal of a blended learning training programme - an exploratory study
title_sort communication in mental health nursing bachelor students appraisal of a blended learning training programme an exploratory study
topic Blended learning
Role play
Communication skills
Mental health nursing
Video
Feed-back
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12912-018-0288-9
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AT sevaldhøye communicationinmentalhealthnursingbachelorstudentsappraisalofablendedlearningtrainingprogrammeanexploratorystudy