Perception of educational environment among Bsc nursing students

Abstract

An observational and analytical study was carried out to assess the perception of educational environment among B. Sc. nursing students at a selected college of nursing, in Ernakulam district. Objectives of the study were, to assess the perception of educational environment among B. Sc. nursing students, to compare the perception of educational environment among first, second, third and fourth year B. Sc. nursing students, to find out the relationship between the measure of educational environment and academic score among B. Sc. nursing students and to identify the weaker and stronger areas of educational environment. Data were collected from 248 undergraduate nursing students of the college by using total enumerative sampling. Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) inventory was used to get the responses from the students. The total mean score on the 50 item DREEM inventory was 121.48 out of maximum of 200 which showed a more positive perception than negative. No significant difference was seen in the perception score among first, second, third and fourth year B. Sc. nursing students. There was no significant correlation between perception score of educational environment and academic score. Students’ perception of learning and their teachers, their academic self perception, social self perception and the perception of atmosphere were all positive. There were four areas identified as problematic requiring remediation. Implication of the study is to design and maintain a supportive environment in addition to planning strategies to remedy problematic elements in the educational environment.