Publication: Students’ Perception Regarding the Integration of Basic Sciences Courses in Nursing Curriculum
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Integration of basic sciences course in nursing provides theoretical and clinical
foundation in preparing clinically competent nurses to tackle todays’ sophisticated
health care system. Although basic sciences have always been considered as
the subject of difficulty, there is paucity of evidence that explored the difficulties
associated with the basic sciences courses in nursing curriculum.
Objective
To explore the difficulties experienced by the students and solutions to the difficulties
related to basic sciences course from nursing students’ perspective.
Method
A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted enrolling 164 nursing students. A
self-administered semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were
entered and analyzed descriptively in SPSS version 16 and information obtained was
analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Result
Of the total 164 students, 93.3% perceived basic science as a difficult subject. Vast
course content (79.73%), insufficient time allocation (40.52%) and integration of
six basic sciences subjects into one (29.41%) were the major difficulties. Solution
emphasized by students were to: make course specific to nursing (67.36%), organize
frequent tests (61.11%), focus more on clinical implications (46.60%), increase credit
hours (37.50%), conduct exams of six basic sciences subjects separately and provide
examination feedback (29.36%). Entrance marks score was found to influence
difficulty in basic sciences (p=0.01).
Conclusion
Basic science is considered as the difficult subject by nursing students. Necessary
actions may be taken by the curriculum reviewer, college administration and the
educators so as to minimize this difficulty among students.
KEY WORDS
Basic sciences, Curriculum, Nursing students, Perception
Description
Shrestha S,1 Devkota R,1 Shrestha B2
1Department of Nursing
Nepal Medical College
Jorpati, Kathmandu.
2Department of Nursing
Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences
Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Keywords
Basic sciences, Curriculum, Nursing students, Perception