Advisor
Roehrs, Carol
Committee Member
Hayes, Janice
Committee Member
Valerio, Marilyn
Committee Member
Gregg, Ellen
Department
Nursing
Institution
University of Northern Colorado
Type of Resources
Text
Place of Publication
Greeley (Colo.)
Publisher
University of Northern Colorado
Date Created
8-1-2011
Genre
Thesis
Extent
151 pages
Digital Origin
Born digital
Description
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether senior baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in a curriculum based on a theory of caring reported higher levels of perceived empowerment as learners and higher levels of perceived clinical decision-making ability than senior baccalaureate nursing students enrolled a curriculum not based on a theory of caring. This study also investigated whether there is a relationship between the level of empowerment as learners and the level of perceived clinical decision-making ability in senior baccalaureate nursing students. Surveys were distributed online to senior nursing students enrolled in a university which was determined to have a curriculum based on a caring theory and to senior nursing students enrolled in a university which was deemed to have a curriculum which was not based on a caring theory. Research instruments included a demographic survey, the Learner Empowerment Measure (LEM), and the Clinical Decision Making in Nursing Scale (CDMNS). Sixty-nine surveys were returned and 62 were included in the study. T-tests were conducted to determine differences in mean scores of the total LEM and total CDMNS and each of the subscales for each instrument. No significant differences in group mean scores were found between the two groups on the LEM and the CDMNS. Additionally, no significant relationship was found between the LEM and the CDMNS. The results of this study indicate that curriculum structure may not be a contributing factor to learner empowerment and clinical decision-making of nursing students. However, the information obtained regarding students' perceptions of caring characteristics of the nursing school/faculty is important. Further research should be conducted to determine what factors students identify as caring and whether these factors may influence empowerment and clinical decision-making.
Degree type
PhD
Degree Name
Doctoral
Language
English
Local Identifiers
Johnson_unco_0161D_10098.pdf
Rights Statement
Copyright is held by author.
