Use of problem based scenarios to prepare nursing students to address quality improvement in health care unit: North-West University experience

Abstract

Preparation for quality health care must begin in the basic education and should be integrated in the clinical education to be more meaningful. The aim of the study is to explore and describe the opinions of nursing students regarding the use of PBL scenario in addressing quality improvement in the health care unit; Problem based scenario was used to address quality improvement at unit level for the level 4 nursing students and followed collaborative assessment after placement in the clinical services for four weeks preparing for quality inspection. Sequential explorative mixed method was used. Purposive sampling was used to recruit the participants in the qualitative component and convenient sampling in quantitative strand. Ethical clearance was obtained from NWU ethics committee (Ethics No. NWU-00033-11-A9) and permission to conduct the study was obtained from North West Provincial Health Department. Themes that emerged from the interviews included: empowerment from Problem Based Learning (PBL) scenario and clinical project; preparedness to address quality improvement in clinical setting; contribution to the unit readiness for quality improvement; and strengthening of inter-institutional and interdisciplinary collaborations. PBL scenarios are very effective teaching quality improvement and in closing the theoretical and clinical learning gaps and collaboration in assessment of students benefit students.