Construction of the framework for lifelong learning ability of college nursing teachers based on Ecological Systems...

To construct a systematic framework for college nursing teachers' lifelong learning ability guiding the professional development of college nursing teachers.

Twenty participants (including 12 nursing teachers, 3 educational administrators, and 5 nursing students) were selected through purposive sampling from a university between July and December 2024. Semi-structured in-depth interviews guided by the five nested systems of Ecological Systems Theory (EST) were conducted to collect data, which were then analyzed using NVivo 12 software and grounded theory coding.

Grounded in the five nested systems of EST (individual, micro, meso, exo, macro), the "adaptation, planning, renovation, transformation, shaping (APRTS)" framework for college nursing teachers' lifelong learning ability was proposed for the first time, including 5 core dimensions and 15 sub-dimensions. A dynamic ecological cycle mechanism (adaptation→planning→renovation→transformation→shaping) emerged across these dimensions, reflecting the systematic and interactive nature of ability development.

Grounded in EST, this framework systematically expounds the internal logic and development laws of college nursing teachers' lifelong learning ability, providing a theoretical basis and practical reference for responding to social changes, empowering educational transformation, and optimizing the educational ecosystem. It promotes a paradigm shift in teachers' career development from passive acceptance to active change.