Student perceptions of empowerment in their graduate program

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Advanced Practice Nursing
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• Empowerment is crucial for Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) to effectively manage healthcare demands.
• The link between APN student empowerment and their ability to empower patients remains underexplored.
• Understanding factors influencing student empowerment is vital for preparing competent APNs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors eliciting empowerment and powerlessness in Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) graduate students.
• To gather student feedback on their educational experiences regarding power dynamics.
• To inform the development of educational strategies aimed at empowering APN students.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study was conducted to collect feedback from APN students.
• The study replicated previous research conducted with staff nurses.
• Qualitative data on student experiences of empowerment and powerlessness were elicited.

Main Results:

• Empowerment was associated with student-driven learning, valued experiences, and goal-oriented guidance.
• Powerlessness stemmed from faculty control, demeaning interactions, and learning disconnected from student goals.
• Student experiences directly influenced feelings of empowerment or powerlessness.

Conclusions:

• Educational approaches that respect student autonomy and align with their goals are empowering.
• Faculty behavior and curriculum design significantly impact APN student empowerment.
• Findings provide a foundation for creating educational frameworks to enhance APN student empowerment.