Students’ perception on educational environment of the postgraduate programme in selected nursing colleges of Nepal

Abstract

Background: Student’s positive perception towards the academic environment determines the quality of education. This study aimed at finding students’ perception on educational environ­ment of the postgraduate nursing programme of Nepal.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted among 104 masters level nursing stu­dents from four selected nursing campuses under Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University. Enu­merative sampling technique was used to select the sample. Data were collected using validated standard tool Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) scale and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Most of the nursing students (81.7%) had positive level of perception on their educational environment and few had excellent perception. Total DREEM mean score was 134.37± 21 out of 200. Specifically, mean score of learning was 31.93 ± 5.1 out of 48, students’ perception of teachers was 30.02 ± 5.072 out of 44; students’ academic self-perception was 22.32 ± 3.54 out of 32; students’ perception of atmosphere was 32.26±5.1 out of 48 and mean score for students social self-perception was 17.82± 3.3 out of 28. Lower mean score < 2.0 was identified on teaching factual learning, oppor­tunities to memorize learning, supporting during stress, time management of programs, well prepara­tion for classes and student’s self-perception.

Conclusions: The findings indicate more positive perception on educational environment among post­graduate nursing students. Still some aspects such as teaching factual learning, memorizing learning, supportive students during stress, and social environment need to be emphasized to enhance the students’ educational environment of post-graduate nursing program by the academic institution.