Creating a culture of patient-focused care through a learner-centered philosophy

This paper will discuss the teaching-learning process used in the Patient-Focused Care Course at a major teaching hospital in Canada that is transforming nursing practice from a provider driven to a patient-focused approach. The experiential and reflective nature of the course offers opportunities for nurses to link theory with practice, to think critically and reflectively about their own values and beliefs and to translate that meaning into practice. The learning process reflects principles of adult learning based on Knowles andragogical model which differs from the traditional pedagogical model of teaching. The essence of andragogy is a constant unfolding process of discovery based on dialogue. Utilization of adult learning principles that support critical thinking and foster transformational change present an alternative to traditional ways of teaching and learning the art and science of nursing practice.