Exploring of Action Reflection Teaching to Nursing Students' Spiritual Status and Reflection in the Course of Spiritual Nursing for Elders

Wednesday, 24 July 2013: 10:50 AM

Ya Lie Ku, MSN, RN
Department of Nursing, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan
Jen-Kuei Ko, MSN
Department of Nursing, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Pi-Yu Lee, MSN
College of Nursing, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to understand the method of action reflection teaching.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to understand the action reflection teaching to nursing studentsf spiritual status and reflection.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to exploe action reflection teaching to nursing students’ spiritual status and reflection in the course of spiritual nursing for elders.

Methods: The first period was preparation period for the researcher and two faculties in the long-term care for the elders and three two- years nursing students to construct the process of life-review and reminiscence activities for the elders. The second period was conducting period for the researcher to inspire nursing students reflecting and experiencing the meaning of each unit in the course of spiritual nursing for the elders. Additionally, a group of nursing students should conduct the method of reflection action in the first period of the process of life-review and reminiscence activities for the elders. The third period was evaluation period for nursing students to self-evaluate their own spiritual status and spiritual care abilities for the elders, evaluate the reflection levels of nursing students by Boud(1985) reflection model, and analyze their reflection journals. This study was conducted from November, 2010 to June, 2011.

Results: Forty-one nursing students participating in the course of spiritual nursing for the elders self-perceived their own spiritual status and the abilities of spiritual nursing care for the elders as significantly improved (p<.001). Additionally, the 4th to 6th level of reflection by Boud, Keogh, & Walker (1985) also was significantly improved (p<.05). Content analysis of reflection journals from nursing students identified that they have applied the spiritual component and assessment skills into the process of life-review and reminiscence activities for the elders.

Conclusion: Through the reflection process, nursing students were found to be better able to help elders feel affirmed and fulfilled in sharing their life stories, as well as to cherish their own lives more, accomplishing the win-win goal of spiritual well-being.