Learning needs of nursing postgraduates in Southwest China based on Hutchinson’s learning needs theory: a qualitative research
Abstract Background The process of education is mutual. The learning needs of students need to be paid attention to and can affect the learning outcome. In order to make nursing postgraduates’ curriculum better, meet the learning needs of students, and help to achieve the learning objectives of stud...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04217-0 |
| _version_ | 1797849984706543616 |
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| author | Suofei Zhang Huijuan Ma Xiaoli Zhu Aifang Niu Yu Luo |
| author_facet | Suofei Zhang Huijuan Ma Xiaoli Zhu Aifang Niu Yu Luo |
| author_sort | Suofei Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The process of education is mutual. The learning needs of students need to be paid attention to and can affect the learning outcome. In order to make nursing postgraduates’ curriculum better, meet the learning needs of students, and help to achieve the learning objectives of students, this study based on Hutchinson’s learning needs theory, aims to collect the learning experience of nursing graduates, as well as the gap between learning needs and target needs, and explore the benefits and barriers of nursing graduates in the curriculum learning. It may provide beneficial reference for further optimizing teaching content and improving teaching methods. Methods This study was designed as a qualitative research. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 17 nursing postgraduates in the only two universities in Chongqing, Southwest China, 2021. Semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews were conducted to explore how they subjectively experience the benefits and demands of the professional curriculum. Data was analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis. Results Three main themes “clear learning cognition and goals,” “positive learning attitude,” and “the gap between learning goals and actual needs” were identified from the original data. Respectively, Subthemes concerning the first theme included “improve scientific research capabilities, enlighten thinking and broaden your horizons, and learn new knowledge and new skills.” Subthemes of the second theme were “improve abilities in practice and actively seek diversification of course content and format.” Subthemes of the third theme included “the course has a certain depth and breadth, but the course study does not meet the needs of scientific research, the course contents are theoretical, not knowing how to use the research method in certain conditions.” Conclusions The learning needs of nursing postgraduates in Southwest China could be divided into two parts: benefits and barriers, among which the benefits were participants had clear learning goals and positive learning attitudes. When curriculum could not meet their needs, they actively sought methods (e.g., networks or off-campus resources) to close the gap between those needs and their goals. Follow-up educators should focus on learning needs and build curricula by optimizing the contents and methods of existing teaching resources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:54:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-abffc5a4485d4ca9b2a8e89a7305caa7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:54:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-abffc5a4485d4ca9b2a8e89a7305caa72023-04-09T11:19:41ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202023-04-012311910.1186/s12909-023-04217-0Learning needs of nursing postgraduates in Southwest China based on Hutchinson’s learning needs theory: a qualitative researchSuofei Zhang0Huijuan Ma1Xiaoli Zhu2Aifang Niu3Yu Luo4School of Nursing, Third Military Medical University/Army Medical UniversitySchool of Nursing, Third Military Medical University/Army Medical UniversitySchool of Nursing, Third Military Medical University/Army Medical UniversitySchool of Nursing, Third Military Medical University/Army Medical UniversitySchool of Nursing, Third Military Medical University/Army Medical UniversityAbstract Background The process of education is mutual. The learning needs of students need to be paid attention to and can affect the learning outcome. In order to make nursing postgraduates’ curriculum better, meet the learning needs of students, and help to achieve the learning objectives of students, this study based on Hutchinson’s learning needs theory, aims to collect the learning experience of nursing graduates, as well as the gap between learning needs and target needs, and explore the benefits and barriers of nursing graduates in the curriculum learning. It may provide beneficial reference for further optimizing teaching content and improving teaching methods. Methods This study was designed as a qualitative research. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 17 nursing postgraduates in the only two universities in Chongqing, Southwest China, 2021. Semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews were conducted to explore how they subjectively experience the benefits and demands of the professional curriculum. Data was analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis. Results Three main themes “clear learning cognition and goals,” “positive learning attitude,” and “the gap between learning goals and actual needs” were identified from the original data. Respectively, Subthemes concerning the first theme included “improve scientific research capabilities, enlighten thinking and broaden your horizons, and learn new knowledge and new skills.” Subthemes of the second theme were “improve abilities in practice and actively seek diversification of course content and format.” Subthemes of the third theme included “the course has a certain depth and breadth, but the course study does not meet the needs of scientific research, the course contents are theoretical, not knowing how to use the research method in certain conditions.” Conclusions The learning needs of nursing postgraduates in Southwest China could be divided into two parts: benefits and barriers, among which the benefits were participants had clear learning goals and positive learning attitudes. When curriculum could not meet their needs, they actively sought methods (e.g., networks or off-campus resources) to close the gap between those needs and their goals. Follow-up educators should focus on learning needs and build curricula by optimizing the contents and methods of existing teaching resources.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04217-0Nurse educationNursing postgraduatesLearning needsQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Suofei Zhang Huijuan Ma Xiaoli Zhu Aifang Niu Yu Luo Learning needs of nursing postgraduates in Southwest China based on Hutchinson’s learning needs theory: a qualitative research BMC Medical Education Nurse education Nursing postgraduates Learning needs Qualitative research |
| title | Learning needs of nursing postgraduates in Southwest China based on Hutchinson’s learning needs theory: a qualitative research |
| title_full | Learning needs of nursing postgraduates in Southwest China based on Hutchinson’s learning needs theory: a qualitative research |
| title_fullStr | Learning needs of nursing postgraduates in Southwest China based on Hutchinson’s learning needs theory: a qualitative research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Learning needs of nursing postgraduates in Southwest China based on Hutchinson’s learning needs theory: a qualitative research |
| title_short | Learning needs of nursing postgraduates in Southwest China based on Hutchinson’s learning needs theory: a qualitative research |
| title_sort | learning needs of nursing postgraduates in southwest china based on hutchinson s learning needs theory a qualitative research |
| topic | Nurse education Nursing postgraduates Learning needs Qualitative research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04217-0 |
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