Saturday, 23 February 2019
Background & Significance: There are relatively few opportunities for undergraduate nursing students to participate in research and scholarly endeavors during their primary educational nursing preparation. The role of the nurse scientist and faculty member are not roles that are familiar to the majority of undergraduate nursing students. At the same time, the U.S. is facing a critical shortage in nurse faculty and nurse scientists. In addition, the increasingly globalized society due to increased mobility, international travel, immigration, and displacement due to war or poverty requires innovative solutions to address individual and societal healthcare issues. It is imperative that nursing schools provide opportunities and mentorship in developing and implementing research opportunities for undergraduate students in order to develop a pipeline of students to consider a career as a nurse scientist.
Methods: Four third semester undergraduate nursing students accompanied faculty to Panama for two purposes: to attend a research conference designed to enhance the quantitative skills of Panamanian nursing faculty; and to participate in a community-based health survey research project already in place in the country. Students assisted in the collection of 27 family health surveys in the community by going door-to-door with Panamanian undergraduate nursing students. They assisted with obtaining consent, explaining the purpose of the survey and collecting the data in Spanish. In addition, the students created a database for the surveys, and completed survey data input, cleaning and analysis in SPSS.
Pre-departure research training consisted of a review of informed consent, obtaining human subjects certification, database elements, and the conduct of research. The students also participated in the research conference and skill building, coding and analysis of conference evaluations for publication.
Following the research experience in Panama, students completed a survey of the experiential learning consisting of: the reason for participating, identification of research principles learned, the necessary additional preparation of future students, and aspects of research enjoyed/not enjoyed.
Outcomes: All four students expressed great enjoyment of the research experience with a desire to continue their education and enrolling into the BSN-PhD program to consider a career as nurse scientists. Students wanted to learn about research and the real-world research process. A thorough preparation in the native language is needed for research experiences in a foreign country. They also expressed an appreciation for the research process that could not be obtained in the classroom alone.
Conclusion/Discussion: It is proposed that these experiences will enhance student understanding of research in a global setting; develop research and scholarship skills, and positively impact transition into doctoral education (undergraduate students). The increasingly globalized society has created a critical need for nurses with knowledge of health conditions that affect different populations. To meet this growing need, an increased number of early-career nurse-scientists and nurses well-versed in research are needed to improve care-delivery to an increasingly diverse patient population. Nursing students who engage in global healthcare experiences related to nursing research and international scholarship can meet these needs.
Methods: Four third semester undergraduate nursing students accompanied faculty to Panama for two purposes: to attend a research conference designed to enhance the quantitative skills of Panamanian nursing faculty; and to participate in a community-based health survey research project already in place in the country. Students assisted in the collection of 27 family health surveys in the community by going door-to-door with Panamanian undergraduate nursing students. They assisted with obtaining consent, explaining the purpose of the survey and collecting the data in Spanish. In addition, the students created a database for the surveys, and completed survey data input, cleaning and analysis in SPSS.
Pre-departure research training consisted of a review of informed consent, obtaining human subjects certification, database elements, and the conduct of research. The students also participated in the research conference and skill building, coding and analysis of conference evaluations for publication.
Following the research experience in Panama, students completed a survey of the experiential learning consisting of: the reason for participating, identification of research principles learned, the necessary additional preparation of future students, and aspects of research enjoyed/not enjoyed.
Outcomes: All four students expressed great enjoyment of the research experience with a desire to continue their education and enrolling into the BSN-PhD program to consider a career as nurse scientists. Students wanted to learn about research and the real-world research process. A thorough preparation in the native language is needed for research experiences in a foreign country. They also expressed an appreciation for the research process that could not be obtained in the classroom alone.
Conclusion/Discussion: It is proposed that these experiences will enhance student understanding of research in a global setting; develop research and scholarship skills, and positively impact transition into doctoral education (undergraduate students). The increasingly globalized society has created a critical need for nurses with knowledge of health conditions that affect different populations. To meet this growing need, an increased number of early-career nurse-scientists and nurses well-versed in research are needed to improve care-delivery to an increasingly diverse patient population. Nursing students who engage in global healthcare experiences related to nursing research and international scholarship can meet these needs.
See more of: Rising Stars of Research and Scholarship Invited Student Posters Session 2
See more of: Invited Posters
See more of: Invited Posters