The potential for learning within hospital learning communities: the interplay between nursing practice and education to support research ability

• Published in: International journal of nursing education scholarship Vol. 17; no. 1
• Main Authors: Heemskerk, Wendy M., Warning, Talitha D., Brus, Frank, Snoeren, Miranda M. W. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin De Gruyter 01.01.2020; Walter de Gruyter GmbH
• Subjects: Ability; Collaboration; Continuing education; Critical thinking; Evidence-based nursing; Hospitals; Learning; learning community; learning potential; Medical education; Medical research; Nurse led services; Nurses; Nursing; Nursing care; Nursing education; Professional practice; Quality of care; research ability; Terminology
• ISSN: 2194-5772; 1548-923X
• DOI: 10.1515/ijnes-2019-0114

Abstract Objectives Nurses must contribute to the development of professional practice and thereby improve quality of care by using their research abilities. Therefore, learning communities comprised of nurses, students and teachers were created in a hospital. Methods A qualitative descriptive methodology was used. Three learning communities were purposefully selected, and members were asked open-ended questions about their learning and activities in multiple data collection sessions. Data were analyzed by means of an inductive process. Results Both individually and collectively, members learned about research in general, research terminology and methods. They learned about asking questions and critical thinking, and, specifically through collective learning, they learned about the differences between education practices. Activities were carried out primarily to continue personal learning. Conclusions Learning within the learning communities was mainly research-oriented and therefore potentially suitable for enhancing research ability. Implications are offered to support the formulation of community activities.