Nurse educators' knowledge, preparation, application, and participation in quality improvement

@#<strong>BACKGROUND</strong><p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;">The capability of nurse educators to teach and practice quality improvement (QI) is crucial in assisting students in their transition to becoming professionals. Understanding the strengths and limitations of nurse educators on QI can be a logical start to determine if they can keep up with the expectations.</p><strong>OBJECTIVES</strong><p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;">This paper aimed to determine the nurse educators' knowledge, preparation, application, and participation in QI, as well as the differences when grouped according to years of teaching and BSN degree completion.</p><strong>METHODS</strong><p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;">A descriptive correlational design was utilized involving nurse educators from six nursing schools in Baguio City, Philippines. Only full-time nurse educators with official teaching load during the data gathering, regardless of academic background and position, were eligible. Faculty members who were on leave were excluded. A self-made tool (CVI 0.90, Cronbach's alpha 0.90) was used to gather data. Unpaired t-tests and ANOVA were used to determine the significant differences in the scores. Multiple regression was utilized to compute the relationship between knowledge, preparation, and participation in applying QI.</p><strong>RESULTS</strong><p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;">104 nurse educators responded. Results show that they are knowledgeable (x̄= 15.82; SD = 0.11), somewhat prepared (x̄= 2.93; SD = 0.08), and participated reasonably well (x̄= 2.77; SD = 0.11) on QI. Higher scores were given to the application of QI in the nursing courses (x̄= 2.44; SD = 0.08) and teaching-learning strategies (x̄= 0.83; SD = 0.07), compared with its application in improving Self as educators (x̄= 2.30; SD = 0.11), and improving student's learning outcomes (x̄= 2.13; SD = 0.11). Scores of nurse educators with more than ten years of teaching experience significantly differed in the extent of knowledge, application in teaching-learning strategies, and application of QI tools to improve Self and participation compared to those with less teaching experience. The scores did not significantly vary when grouped according to BSN degree completion. A positive relationship was observed between preparation and the application of QI tools to improve Self (p = 0.00). Data also showed a positive relationship between participation with application in nursing courses (p = 0.00), application of QI tools to improve Self (p = 0.00), and student learning outcomes. (p = 0.00).</p><strong>CONCLUSION</strong><p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;">The results of this study are encouraging and show the potential of nurse educators to apply quality improvement in the nursing curriculum. The adept use of technological tools in producing QI projects can augment the strength of nurse educators in meeting patient-centered care. Teaching experience can contribute to a better grasp of the concepts and maximum integration of quality improvement in nursing students' learning. Identifying, mobilizing, and supporting QI champions to spearhead the mentoring of new faculty members on QI may be a viable strategy to sustain a culture that values quality improvement. It further calls for the attention of educational institutions to develop policies to inform nurse educators in applying QI concepts.</p>

COVID-19 as an enabler for enhancing online learning and teaching skills for nurse educators at the University of Namibia: Prospects and challenges

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused instability in the education system and has compelled higher education institutions (HEIs) to find alternative ways of teaching and learning by making use of the latest online teaching approaches. Aim: The purpose of the study was to explore how COVID-19 could serve as an enabler for the enhancement of online learning and teaching skills for nurse educators at the University of Namibia with specific emphasis on prospects and challenges. Setting: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in English at a public nursing education institution located in the northeast of Namibia. Methods: A qualitative explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was used. Data were collected by means of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 18 nurse educators from the School of Nursing. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Field notes were simultaneously taken to enrich the data. Results: The study revealed three themes: nurse educators' experiences of the use of online learning and teaching skills, COVID-19 as an enabler for enhancing online learning and teaching skills and strategies to sustain online teaching and learning. Conclusion: Internet technology has generated a surge in demand for web-based teaching and learning. The online learning mode was not effectively utilised during the COVID-19 era because of inadequate technological skills on the part of nurse educators. Contribution: These findings can be used by universities to equip students and academic staff with skills to adapt to e-learning as the new modus operandi in learning and teaching in the post-COVID-19 era.

Spirituality and spiritual care in nursing: A literature review

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">Spirituality is a multifaceted concept with varied definitions. In the nursing literature, it is commonly described based on its significance in the lives of individuals. Exploring the perspectives of nurses, nursing students, and patients regarding spirituality and spiritual care is crucial to gain a sound understanding of how these concepts impact the nursing profession. This literature review explored the perspectives on spirituality and spiritual care of four population groups: nurse educators, nursing students, clinical nurses, and patients. A literature search was done using worldwide databases. The 84 articles included dealt with the perceptions of nurse educators, nursing students, clinical nurses, and patients regarding spirituality and spiritual care.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The four main categories of perspectives from the nurse educators, nursing students, nurse clinicians, and patients yielded ten sub-categories: (a) meaning of spirituality and spiritual care, (b) role of spirituality and spiritual care in nursing practice, (c) role of nursing education in developing spirituality and spiritual care competence of nursing students, (d) manner of integrating spirituality and spiritual care in nursing curriculum, (e) methods of teaching spirituality and spiritual care, (f) manner of spiritual care delivery, (g) barriers and challenges to the teaching and learning of spirituality and spiritual care, (h) barriers and challenges to spiritual care delivery, (i) ways of enhancing nurse educators' competence in curricular integration and teaching spirituality and spiritual care, and (j) ways of enhancing nurses' competence in spiritual care delivery.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Nurse educators, nursing students, clinical nurses, and patients presented similar and diverse perspectives, but they all recognized the significance of spirituality and spiritual care in the profession. The information derived from this study can contribute to the existing knowledge base and spur strategies at individual and institutional levels to enhance teaching and learning of the concepts, improve practice, and promote holistic care.</p>