Relationships between Factors and Academic Achievement in Pediatric Nursing Subject among Nursing Students, Kuakarun College of Nursing

Abstract

This research aimed to study the correlation between personal factors, attitude toward nursing  profession, learning achievement motives, learning behavior, learning environment and academic achievement in pediatric nursing subject among nursing students. The sample was composed of 257 nursing students, who were attending year 2 and year 3 at Kuakarun Nursing College, 2006 academic year. The data were collected using questionnaire after completion of pediatric nursing subject, in June 2007. Percentage, means, standard deviation, Pearson’s coefficient of correlation and stepwise multiple  regression were used to analyze the data. The results were as follows.

1. Mean score of academic achievement in pediatric nursing subject of the overall (    = 4.58, SD

= 1.11), academic achievement in pediatric nursing 1 subject of students year 2 (    = 4 .71, SD = 1.07),

academic achievement in pediatric nursing 2 subject of students year 3 (    = 4.43, SD = 1.13) were at  moderate level.

2. There were positively significant relationships between GPA (r = 0.642, p < 0.01), learning  in class (r =0.216, p< 0.01) and academic achievement in pediatric nursing 1 subject of nursing students year 2.

3. There were positively significant relationships between GPA (r = 0.655, p < 0.01), learning  in class (r = 0.369, p < 0.01), learning environment concerning peer (r = 0.302, p < 0.01), self directed learning (r = 0.293, p < 0.01), physical environment concerning dormitory (r = 0.248, p < 0 .01), learning achievement motives (r = 0.236, p < 0.01), physical environment concerning welfare and service (r = 0.196, p < 0 .05) and academic achievement in pediatric nursing 2 subject of nursing students year 3.

4. There were positively significant relationships between GPA (r = 0.662, p < 0.01),  learning

in class (r = 0.307, p < 0.01), learning achievement motives (r = 0.19, p < 0.01), physical environment  concerning dormitory (r = 0.169, p < 0.01), learning environment concerning peer (r = 0.135, p < 0.05), self directed learning (r = 0.13, p < 0.05) and academic achievement in pediatric nursing subject of the   overall.

5. The stepwise multiple regression showed that GPA were the best factors to predict academic achievement in pediatric nursing 1 subject of students year 2 at 39.9 percent (R²= 0.399, p < 0.01), GPA  and learning in class were the best factors to predict academic achievement in pediatric nursing 2 subject of students year 3 at 45.5 percent (R² = 0.459, p < 0.01), GPA were the best factors to predict academic achievement in pediatric nursing subject of the overall at 43.8 percent (R² =0.438, p < 0.001)