Developing the Appropriate Nursing Laboratory for Self-learning of Nursing Students of Phrapokklao Nursing College, Chanthaburi

Abstract

This research and development aimed to develop the appropriate nursing laboratory for self-learning of nursing students. The samples consisted of 281, 2nd-year nursing students of Phrapokklao Nursing College, Chanthaburi in an academic year of 2016 and 2017. The research instrument was a 3-part questionnaire of satisfaction on using the nursing laboratory that comprised general data, development needs, and satisfaction on using the nursing laboratory with the reliability of .85. The research process consisted of 4 main steps including a survey of needs for development and satisfaction on using nursing laboratory; developing a nursing laboratory; experimenting a nursing laboratory; and evaluating satisfaction on using nursing laboratory. The implementation and data collection were conducted from March to December, 2017. Statistics used for data analysis included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and independent t-test.

The research results revealed that the development of the appropriate nursing laboratory for self-learning of the nursing students following the survey results were composed of 1) purchasing and preparing more virtual models, materials, and equipment in order to be sufficient for the number of nursing students and skills that nursing students must practice frequently; 2) increasing the number of nursing medias and computers with internet connection; 3) extending the nursing laboratory opening hours; 4) supporting the equipment loan servicing system; 5) teaching how to maintain equipment and virtual models; and 6) encouraging how importance of self-training of nursing skills. Additionally, it was found that after developing the nursing laboratory, the nursing students had statistically significant higher mean score of satisfaction on using the appropriate nursing laboratory for self-learning than before developing the nursing laboratory (t = 2.925, p < .01).

This research suggests that involved personnel of nursing laboratory for self-learning should examine the problems and satisfaction on using the nursing laboratory every academic year as well as provide adequate models and materials for nursing skills training and extend the nursing laboratory opening hours.