The third-year nursing students’ opinion toward the integration of student-centered approach for field trip in mental health and psychiatric nursing practicum

Abstract

This research aimed to examine the third year Assumption University nursing students’ opinions toward the integration of student-centered approach for field trip in Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Practicum. The eight of nursing students were purposive sampled by the researcher from 43 students. Data collection was derived by focus group discussion after completing three areas of field trip including the Stress Relaxation Clinic of Somdejchaophraya Institute of Psychiatry, Emergency Home of Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women, and Yuwaprasart Vaitayoprathum Hospital. Data analysis including content analysis and analytic induction were applied. The research results found that nursing students prepared themselves before field trip by meeting to choose their leader, set up field trip objectives, and delegate responsibilities to others. The benefits gained from field trip were receiving more knowledge, practicing working as a group and cooperating with other people. But the most benefit was obtaining knowledge as their real needed. There were some obstacles during the implementation of student-centered approach for example some students didn’t response in their assignments, moreover some parts of plan didn’t relate to the real environment of field trip areas. The instructors’ roles were facilitator, consultant, and encourager. Nursing students involved in all steps of activities, got more experiences that their needs, and knew how to seek knowledge by themselves which was the good point of the integration of student-centered concept into teaching-learning process. The results suggested that student-centered approach should be implemented in advance in nursing education as a life long learning.