Perceptions of postbasic nursing students in the use of seminars as a teaching method

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Pedagogy in Higher Education

Background:

• The shift towards learner-centered, outcomes-based education necessitates innovative teaching strategies in nursing.
• Nurse educators must adopt methods that promote reflective thinking and problem-solving skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the effectiveness of seminars as an interactive teaching method in nursing education.
• To identify the benefits and challenges of using seminars to foster reflective thinking in nursing students.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive and exploratory study involving 44 final-year post-basic nursing students.
• Data collection through descriptive naïve sketches and follow-up interviews with 10 students.
• Content analysis using Tesch's method to categorize findings.

Main Results:

• Positive categories identified: active participation, professional growth, reflective thinking, and improved communication.
• Negative categories identified: time consumption, potential for conflict, and teaching ability obstacles.
• Findings were supported by a literature review.

Conclusions:

• Seminars can be an effective teaching method in nursing education when implemented appropriately.
• Recommendations are provided for optimizing seminar use to maximize benefits and mitigate challenges.
• Further research may explore specific strategies for overcoming identified obstacles.