Strategies for Developing Future Skills of Nursing Students in Faculty of Nursing Praboromarajchanok Institute

Abstract

This qualitative research aimed to synthesize the future skills of nursing students, develop strategies, and evaluate the draft strategies for the development of future skills for nursing students at the Faculty of Nursing, Praboromarajchanok Institute. Future skills refer to the set of competencies, abilities, and knowledge that are predicted to be in high demand in the future job market. The research was conducted in four steps: 1) synthesize the future skills of nursing students through a  literature review and interviews with 8 nursing college administrators, 2) synthesize the internal and external organizational environments through the analysis of strategic planning documents and interviews with 40 nursing college administrators, 3) develop strategies based on the environmental analysis using the TOWS Matrix method, and 4) ten experts evaluated the strategies through focus  group discussions. The data was analyzed using content analysis. The research results showed as follows.

1. The future skills of nursing students include 8 key skills: a) analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, b) creativity and innovation skills, c) cultural diversity understanding, d) collaboration, teamwork, and leadership skills, e)communication skills and the use of a second language in healthcare, f) technology skills, g) career and lifelong learning skills, and h) moral and ethical skills.

2. There were 4 strategies for developing the future skills of nursing students: a) to promote the use of an educational quality assurance system, b) to develop systems and mechanisms for faculty and staff development to support students' future skills, c) to modernize the information technology system and promote the effective use of technology, and d) to integrate teaching and learning management with student development, so to continuously enhance future skills.

3. The four strategies for developing the future skills of nursing students at the Praboromarajchanok Institute Faculty of Nursing were found to be consistent, appropriate, feasible, and beneficial for the future skill development among nursing students.

Based on this research results, the Praboromarajchanok Institute Faculty of Nursing can utilize these strategies to design programs, projects, or activities to more effectively develop the future skills among nursing students.