B.Sc. Nursing students' perception of problem based learning in the adult Nursing module

Abstract

The most commonly used pedagogy in Department of Nursing; Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (FAHS) is the conventional lecture method. Problem Based Learning (PBL) is a student centered instructional method, which uses well-structured problems as the context for student learning. PBL pedagogy can be introduced in many ways. Adult Nursing is a subject where creative thinking and problem solving of the learners is an important outcome. Thus, an attempt was made to incorporate PBL in to the teaching programme and assess its receptivity. A selected part of the Adult Nursing module 2 was carried out as PBL sessions for 2nd year B.Sc. nursing students. An introductory session on PBL process was held, followed by four PBL sessions. Students' perception of PBL sessions were obtained by a tailor-made 16 item questionnaire, administered at the end of the four sessions. The response rate was 61% (24 out of 39). Students' perception of the PBL process was highly positive. Most of the students (92%) agreed that PBL stimulates them to learn and it is an effective way of learning. Next most highly rated item was that PBL improved their critical thinking ability (82%). Students' perceptions of tutors were also positive. However students' perception of peers was rated less positively than the PBL process. Results of this pilot study showed that second year B.Sc nursing students' perceptions of PBL method were very positive and they consider PBL as an effective way of learning. Therefore. it is desirable to organise more PBL sessions in the B.Sc. nursing curriculum.