title: From anxiety to enthusiasm: facilitating graduate nursing students' knowledge development in science and theory.
abstract: Knowledge development of theory can be challenging for graduate nursing students when they experience deficits related to theoretical foundations, evaluation, or application. This article recounts the experiences of the students and course facilitator with a graduate-level nursing science and theory course, which required critical analysis of a concept, theory critique, and poster presentation. The idea for this article was generated when the students realized the profound importance of nursing theories and their applicability to practice and research. Students' anxiety gave way to enthusiasm with the implementation of teaching and learning strategies based on adult learning theory. Knowles' four characteristics of adult learners are discussed in relation to the experiences of the students and course facilitator. These characteristics include learners' wish to be self-directed, need to bring life experiences to their learning, recognition of their social and occupational role competencies, and need to take a more immediate, problem-solving approach to their learning.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, 89 Curry Place, Helen Glass Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2. diana_mcmillan@umanitoba.ca
authors.forename: Diana E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Ember E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Lynda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Mandzuk
authors.forename: Debra M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Matias
authors.forename: Marilyn J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McIvor
authors.forename: Judy E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Krista L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wilkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D019359:Knowledge; D007858:Learning; D017145:Models, Educational; D009042:Motivation; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009742:Nursing Theory; D011340:Problem Solving; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D011361:Professional Competence; D012586:Science / Q000193:education*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration