Building confidence: an exploration of nurses undertaking a postgraduate biological science course.
This study aimed to explore the impact of studying biological science at a postgraduate level and how this impacted on nursing practice. The term biological sciences in this research encompasses elements of physiology, genetics, biochemistry and pathophysiology.


METHODS
A qualitative research study was designed, that involved the dissemination of a pre- and post-course semi-structured questionnaire for a biological science course, as part of a Master of Nursing programme at a New Zealand University, thus exploring the impact of undertaking a postgraduate biological sciences course. The responses were analysed into themes, based on interpretive concepts.


RESULTS
The primary themes revealed improvement in confidence as: confidence in communication, confidence in linking nursing theoretical knowledge to practice and confidence in clinical nursing knowledge.


CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the need to privilege clinically-derived nursing knowledge, and that confidence in this nursing knowledge and clinical practice can be instilled through employing the model of theory-guided practice.
Van Wissen
Kim
K
Massey University, Wellington Campus, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
McBride-Henry
Karen
K
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001690:Biological Science Disciplines / Q000193:education*; D003142:Communication; D003479:Curriculum; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009742:Nursing Theory; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011361:Professional Competence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires