Researching Nursing Students' Engagement: Successful Findings for Nursing

Abstract

A nursing student’s level of engagement is extremely important for their sense of learning and assimilation, and their ongoing successful progression within the nursing profession. Students that are engaged, maintaining satisfactory levels of engagement throughout their courses and into their careers, may more likely remain within the nursing profession. How can we successfully keep students motivated and committed within tough curriculum, challenging opportunities, and the limitations of the depth and length of their formal nursing studies? This study evaluated the second level (of four) nursing students’ sense of engagement in both their current classroom and clinical settings. The findings highlight the need to provide a diverse range of stimulating learning opportunities. The need for insightful and supportive teachers and preceptors is critical for positive student attitude development and progression. Key qualitative aspects of engagement include teamwork, creativity, collaboration, intuition, commitment, active participation, attentiveness, and integrative thinking. These equally important aspects of engagement need to be present within learning to ensure maintenance of positive environments.