Jennifer C F Loke
University of Hull, UK
Title: CARING BEHAVIOURS – The effects of a blended approach to learning
Biography
Biography: Jennifer C F Loke
Abstract
The growing need for nurturing non-technical caring behaviours amongst nursing students may have resulted in the increasing emphasis on high fidelity simulation scenario learning. Given the current resources in higher education, many nursing faculties faced challenges in using this advanced but costly technology. That being the case, digital technologies such as podcasting were encouraged to allow open access learning to reduce cost. In light of the developments in higher education and also, in the context of limited evidence regarding the use of podcasting with simulations on caring behaviours; a mixed-methods design was employed to investigate the blended approach to learning using medium fidelity simualtion scenarios and podcasting. The second year full time undergraduate nursing students at a University in North England were potential participants. Students who consented were assigned to intervention and control groups. While all participants received low and high fidelity simulation learning sessions, the intervention group received an additional medium fidelity simulation scenario and podcasting learning session. Students’ caring behaviour were evaluated at various stages of the research. Students from the intervention group were invited to participate in a focus group discussion to share their perspectives on the various simulation learning strategies and their effects on their learning of caring behaviours. Both quantitative and qualitative findings supported the blended approach to learning.There are implications for nursing faculties to carefully craft a blended approach for nurturing student caring behaviours. The application of our study is not only important to nursing, but also to all who engaged in simulation teaching.