Project Investigator(s): Elizabeth Bailey, Instructor, School of Nursing
Project Description
Undergraduate nursing students at UBC face unique challenges to their wellbeing and academic tenacity given the accelerated nature of their program (18 months), swift transition into stressful clinical learning environments, ethical dilemmas encountered in practicum, in addition to personal stressors outside of the academic context. Ongoing research at UBC and beyond suggests that when students feel connected to their learning environment, their academic success and wellbeing are supported. This project explores both the challenges to creating community and connection in an undergraduate nursing program, as well as strategies to enhance connectedness and community in School of Nursing (SON).
Research Questions
What are the barriers to community connectedness in the accelerated BSN program? What are opportunities and strategies to enhance community connectedness in the BSN program? Longer term question: Does enhanced connectedness lead to improved outcomes such as student satisfaction, academic performance, or pursuit of graduate studies in nursing?
Impact on teaching and learning at UBC
While developing supportive, satisfying, and connected learning environments is of particular concern to nursing, this project has the potential to identify academic community building strategies that are generalizable, particularly to other healthcare/accelerated clinical learning programs.