Creating cohesion between the discipline and practice of nursing using Problem Based Learning

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Pedagogy

Background:

• Long-standing concern regarding the disconnect between nursing as an academic discipline and its practical application.
• Traditional nursing curricula, with their focus on general education, may exacerbate this discontinuity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Problem-Based Learning (PBL) as a pedagogical strategy to enhance the integration of nursing theory and practice.
• To investigate how PBL can foster a deeper understanding of the nursing discipline and its interdisciplinary relationships.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Problem-Based Learning (PBL) as the central teaching methodology.
• Engaged nursing learners with authentic professional practice situations to stimulate learning.
• Integrated reflection on existing knowledge with research for new knowledge acquisition.

Main Results:

• PBL challenges learners to achieve desired liberal learning outcomes alongside discipline-specific knowledge and skills.
• The PBL approach mirrors the process of knowledge generation through the synthesis of reflection and research.
• Learners demonstrated a more profound comprehension of nursing as a discipline and its connections to other fields.

Conclusions:

• Problem-Based Learning (PBL) effectively promotes cohesion between the academic discipline of nursing and its practical application.
• PBL facilitates a more integrated and comprehensive understanding of nursing for students.
• This pedagogical method supports the development of both theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for nursing professionals.