The RN-BSN student: developing a model of empowerment

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• Traditional nursing education faces challenges in preparing graduates for a rapidly changing healthcare landscape.
• A crisis in the current healthcare climate necessitates redefining nursing practice and education.
• There is a growing need to equip graduating Registered Nurse Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) students with adaptive skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement an empowerment model for RN-BSN students.
• To prepare nursing students to effectively cope with the uncertainties and demands of modern healthcare.
• To establish a framework for fostering key professional attributes in nursing graduates.

Main Methods:

• The empowerment model was developed using principles from curriculum revolution, adult learning theory, and empowerment research.
• Empowerment was defined as both an interpersonal process and an outcome.
• A graphic model was created, outlining four core elements: collegiality, communication, autonomy, and accountability.
• Learning experiences and teaching strategies were designed based on these four elements.

Main Results:

• Anecdotal reports indicate positive changes in student behavior following the implementation of the empowerment model.
• The developed model provides a structured approach to nursing education.
• Faculty have identified specific teaching strategies aligned with the empowerment elements.

Conclusions:

• The developed empowerment model shows promise in enhancing nursing student preparedness for future practice.
• Further research is planned to quantitatively investigate the behavioral changes associated with this empowerment model.
• The study highlights the importance of integrating empowerment principles into nursing curricula to address evolving healthcare needs.