The feasibility of students with a predominantly arts educational background coping with the physiology component of...

In this paper the authors discuss their experiences in admitting students with an arts 'A' (advanced) level General Certificate of Education background to an undergraduate nursing degree course. Firstly, the implications of students' different cognitive styles, both professionally and in teaching, are examined. Secondly, there is a description of an introductory course that has been used to assist students in the arts-science transition. Finally, the performance of 'arts' students, in a physiology course over a 6-year period is described, analysed and discussed. The proposition emerges that arts students may be disadvantaged initially by having not only a lack of knowledge in physiology, but a different cognitive style to science specialists. The results of the students' examination performance over 6 years suggests that with the provision of only a limited amount of special help 'arts' students can perform as well as the 'science' students in physiology examinations. Other variables which may have contributed to this positive outcome are discussed.