Graduated nurses' experiences with baccalaureate thesis writing: A qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Academic Writing
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• The baccalaureate thesis (BT) is a crucial component of nursing education.
• Understanding student perceptions of the BT writing process is vital for curriculum improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore newly graduated nurses' perceptions of the baccalaureate thesis writing process.
• To identify challenges and facilitators in completing a baccalaureate thesis.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study employing content analysis.
• Semistructured interviews were conducted with 13 newly graduated nurses.
• Data were collected between June 2018 and March 2019.

Main Results:

• Participants perceived their training as inadequate for scientific academic writing, focusing instead on clinical writing.
• The process of selecting, synthesizing, and writing information for the BT induced anxiety.
• Reflective diaries were identified as a beneficial writing practice.

Conclusions:

• The baccalaureate thesis writing process presents significant challenges for nursing graduates.
• There is a need to enhance nursing curricula with specific academic writing skills training.
• Improved academic writing instruction could alleviate student anxiety and enhance thesis quality.