Registered professional nurses experiences of computer-assisted learning in a private healthcare organisation

Date
2015-04
Authors
Louw, Celeste
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Registered professional nurses are expected to maintain competence. Organisations are employing computer-assisted learning to fulfil this requirement. It was observed that staff experienced challenges such as technical difficulties, insufficient computer literacy, lack of opportunity and access to complete computer-assisted learning activities in a private healthcare organisation. These challenges may have implications for the effective learning and development of registered professional nurses. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of registered professional nurses in computer-assisted learning at a private healthcare organisation. The research question was: “What are the experiences of registered professional nurses in computer-assisted learning at a private healthcare organisation?” The following objectives were set to:  Explore the experiences of registered professional nurses in computer-assisted learning related to o Organisational support o Human interaction o Programme design o Computer literacy A qualitative approach with a descriptive, exploratory design was applied. A purposive sample of seven (n=7) participants from a population of thirty five (N=35) were recruited. A pre-test was completed. Ethical principles were adhered to. A semi structured interview guide based on the objectives of the study was developed by the researcher and validated by a panel of experts in research methodology and nursing education. Data was collected in the form of individual interviews and a demographic questionnaire by the researcher and one research assistant. Content analysis was applied to analyse the data, with six themes emerging. These were access, opportunity, applied support, programme content and design, social learning and computers. The findings demonstrated that registered professional nurses experienced inadequate access and opportunity to computer-assisted learning activities. The lack of computer literacy and human interaction affected the learning experience of some, but not all participants. Technical problems and disturbances in the learning environment were major contributors to the negative experiences in computer-assisted learning. Positive experiences included the convenience and ease of use of intranet-based computer-assisted learning activities. The conceptual framework of Knowles’ Andragogy supported the findings of the study. Recommendations were to provide intranet access at work and home, internet access at work and also formalised opportunity to complete computer-assisted learning activities. Technical problems should be minimised. Learning environments should be separate from work environments.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar word van geregistreerde professionele verpleegkundiges verwag om vaardigheid te behou en organisasies wend rekenaar-ondersteunde leer aan om die vereiste te vervul. Dit was waargeneem dat personeel uitdagings ervaar soos tegniese probleme, onvoldoende rekenaargeletterdheid en ’n tekort aan geleentheid en toegang om rekenaar-ondersteunde aktiwiteite te voltooi by ’n privaat gesondheidsorg organisasie. Hierdie uitdagings mag implikasies inhou vir effektiewe leer en ontwikkeling van geregistreerde professionele verpleegkundiges. Die doel van die studie was om die ervaringe van geregistreerde professionele verpleegkundiges in rekenaar-ondersteunde leer, by ’n privaat gesondheidsorg organisasie te ondersoek. Die navorsingsvraag was: “Wat is die ervaringe van geregistreerde profesionele verpleegkundiges in rekenaar-ondersteunde leer by ’n privaat gesondheidsorg organisasie?” Die volgende doelwitte was gestel om:  Die ervaringe van geregistreerde professionele verpleegkundiges in rekenaarondersteunde leer te ondersoek in verband met o Organisasie ondersteuning o Menslike interaksie o Program ontwerp o Rekenaargeletterdheid ’n Kwalitatiewe benadering met ’n beskrywende, ondersoekende ontwerp was toegepas. ’n Steekproefgroep van sewe (n=7) deelnemers is doelbewus geselekteer vanuit ’n populasie van vyf en dertig (N=35). ’n Voortoets is voltooi. Etiese beginsels is nagevolg. ’n Semigestruktureerde onderhoudsgids gebaseer op die doelwitte van die studie is ontwikkel deur die navorser en bekragtig deur ’n paneel deskundiges in navorsingsmetodiek en verpleegonderrig. Data was ingesamel deur middel van individuele onderhoude en ’n demografiese vraelys deur die navorser en een navorsingsassistent. Inhoudsanalise was toegepas om die data te analiseer met ses temas wat na vore gekom het. Hierdie was toegang, geleentheid, toegepaste ondersteuning, program ontwerp en inhoud, sosiale leer en rekenaars. Die bevindinge het daarop gedui dat geregistreerde professionele verpleegkundiges onvoldoende toegang en geleentheid tot rekenaar-ondersteunde leer aktiwiteite ervaar het. Die gebrek aan rekenaargeltterdheid en menslike interaksie het sommige, alhoewel nie alle deelnemers se leerervaring geaffekteer. Tegniese probleme en versteurings in die leeromgewing het hoofsaaklik bygedra tot negatiewe ervarings in rekenaar-ondersteunde leer. Positiewe ervaringe het ingesluit die gerieflikheid en bruikbaarheid van intranetgebaseerde rekenaar-ondersteunde leer aktiwiteite. Die konseptuele raamwerk van Knowles se Andragogie ondersteun die bevindinge van die studie. Aanbevelings is om internet toegang by die werk, intranet toegang tuis en by die werk te voorsien asook formele geleenthede te skep om rekenaar-ondersteunde leer te voltooi. Tegniese probleme behoort tot die minmum beperk te word. Leeromgewings behoort apart te wees van werksomgewings.
Description
Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
Keywords
computer-assisted learning, UCTD, Nursing -- Study and teaching (Continuing education) -- South Africa, Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa -- Evaluation, Nurses -- South Africa -- Attitudes
Citation