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Summary
Walking through familiar environments helps graduate nursing students understand abstract nursing theory development. This method aids in identifying essential theoretical concepts by connecting the concrete to the abstract.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Nursing Theory Development
- Abstract Thinking in Healthcare
Background:
- Graduate nursing theory courses often present complex abstract concepts.
- Students may struggle to connect theoretical frameworks to practical applications.
- Developing effective pedagogical strategies is crucial for advanced nursing education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore an innovative pedagogical approach for teaching graduate nursing theory.
- To demonstrate how experiential learning can facilitate understanding of theory development.
- To enhance students' ability to identify core concepts within nursing theories.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing guided walks in familiar, everyday environments (e.g., golf courses, shopping malls, neighborhoods).
- Engaging students in observing and analyzing concrete elements within these settings.
- Facilitating discussions to link observed concrete details to abstract theoretical concepts.
Main Results:
- Students demonstrated an improved ability to transition from concrete observations to abstract theoretical principles.
- The experiential approach enhanced recognition of essential elements and concepts within specific nursing theories.
- Participants reported a deeper, more intuitive understanding of theory development processes.
Conclusions:
- Experiential learning through environmental walks is a viable method for teaching abstract nursing theory.
- This approach can bridge the gap between concrete experiences and abstract theoretical knowledge in nursing.
- Educators can leverage familiar environments to foster critical thinking and concept identification in graduate nursing students.