Are nursing students engaged in learning? A secondary analysis of data from the National Survey of Student Engagement

Evidence in higher education supports the practice of active learning as a method of promoting student engagement among college students that has positive effects on problem solving, critical thinking, and persistence. No studies have been reported that evaluate the undergraduate nursing students' level of engagement in college compared with other majors. The purpose of this study was to determine if differences exist between levels of nursing students' engagement and those of education and other health professional students as measured by the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The NSSE is a self-reporting instrument consisting of 70 items measuring level of academic challenge; student interactions with faculty; supportiveness of the campus environment; participation in active and collaborative learning; and enriching educational experiences. Using a descriptive, correlation design, the study incorporated a secondary analysis of NSSE data collected from freshmen and seniors during 2003. Selected demographic data (freshman or senior status) and NSSE data measuring five benchmarks of engagement were analyzed using ANOVA and t-tests to determine relationships. Freshmen were found to be less engaged than seniors on four of five benchmarks. Nursing and other health profession majors perceived themselves to be significantly less engaged in active and collaborative learning than education majors. Nursing students perceived themselves as significantly more academically challenged than their peers in education and other health professions. Results indicate that although nursing students are engaged in rigorous curricula, they do not perceive themselves to be engaged in student-centered and interactive pedagogies. Implications for further research exploring potential barriers surrounding active and collaborative learning strategies are discussed.