A phenomenological exploration of nurse educators' roles in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030

AIM

The purpose of this study is to examine the roles of nurse educators through the eyes of undergraduate and graduate students at selected Saudi Arabian universities in the context of Vision 2030, an initiative to transform the socio-economic reform plan that is opening Saudi Arabia worldwide based on the following three pillars: a vital society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation.

BACKGROUND

Nursing education in Saudi Arabia has faced numerous obstacles due to cultural, educational, organizational and work-related factors, discouraging registered nurses and students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programmes from pursuing career paths in nursing education.

METHODS

Descriptive phenomenology was used as the method. Twenty-two nursing students from selected government and private universities in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region were recruited through purposive sampling and semi-structured in-depth interviews. The COREQ criteria list was adapted to report the study's findings.

RESULTS

Four themes emerged regarding how nursing students perceived nurse educators' roles, including philanthropists of learning, advocates for patient safety and quality service, proponents of individual transformation and beacons of hope for nursing's future.

CONCLUSION

Despite rapidly changing images, ideologies and perceptions of modernization and worldwide freedom of expression and speech, students continue to have positive perspectives on nurse educators' roles.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

The study's findings will provide an initiative for nurse managers and leaders to revisit the roles of nurse educators in moulding future generations of registered nurses and realign these roles towards the goals and objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Development of Student Survey on Writing Nursing Care Plan: An exploratory sequential mixed-methods study

AIM

To come up with a newly developed survey tool that will measure the students' level of quality in writing nursing care plans (NCPs).

BACKGROUND

Exploring various challenges of students in writing NCP would enlighten educators to design innovative strategies on how to mitigate gaps between nursing education and practice.

METHODS

This study utilized an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design in three stages. In phase 1, qualitative semi-structured interviews of 22 students were conducted, and the data were analysed using the Colaizzi method. In phase 2, qualitative results were transformed into survey components, constructs and items, and the data were developed into a new survey tool based on the nursing process system (NPS) model. In phase 3, a quantitative cross-sectional survey of 195 nursing students was conducted to measure their level of quality in writing NCP, and the data were analysed using descriptive statistics of the SPSS software.

RESULTS

In the first (qualitative) phase, five themes emerged from various challenges of nursing students in writing care plans: (a) data gathering; (b) identifying clients' problems; (c) formulating sustainable goals; (d) providing appropriate interventions; and (5) recognizing client's outcomes. In the second phase, a valid and reliable tool called the Student Survey on Writing Nursing Care Plan (SSW-NCP) was developed and tested. Lastly, in the third (quantitative) phase, the nursing students have shown a 'very good' level of quality in writing NCP.

CONCLUSION

Determining students' level of quality in writing NCP would come up with comprehensive ways of improving student competencies in patient care management.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

The survey tool that is formulated from the study will provide relevant information for nurse educators and managers in managing students' and registered nurses' capabilities in writing an excellent care plan.