Useful Learning From Bachelor's Thesis to Professional Nursing Practice: A Qualitative Interview Study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Professional Development
• Academic Research

Background:

• Clinical learning is crucial for nursing preparation.
• The role of academic tasks, like bachelor's theses, in nursing professional development is under-recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore registered nurses' perceptions of the bachelor's thesis process.
• To assess the perceived usefulness of bachelor's theses in professional nursing careers.

Main Methods:

• Semistructured interviews were conducted with ten registered nurses.
• Thematic analysis and the framework of sustainable learning were applied to the data.

Main Results:

• The bachelor's thesis process was viewed as a valuable learning experience and a source of continuing development.
• Key themes identified were professional knowing and professional agency, impacting healthcare contexts and nurse-patient relationships.
• Nurses reported that the thesis fostered research dissemination skills and a critical approach to patient care.

Conclusions:

• Bachelor's theses are justified as they promote critical understanding of nursing phenomena and clinical care.
• Writing theses aligns with sustainable learning principles, preparing nurses for practice changes and development.