Self-Directed Learning Readiness among Undergraduate Nursing Students in a Nursing Campus

Abstract

Background: Self-directed learning is an instructional strategy, in which learners exercise a great deal of independence in setting learning goals and deciding what is worthwhile learning as well as how to approach the learning task within a given framework. The dynamic and complex patient care environment requires nurses to embrace the concept of self-directed learning. The study aimed to identify the readiness for self-directed learning among undergraduate nursing students.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to conduct the study among 151 undergraduate nursing students. The stratified proportionate random sampling technique was used to select the sample from the total population. Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale which is a self-administered, validated standard tool for Nursing Education was used to collect data. The duration of data collection was 2^nd February 2023 to 24^th February 2023. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, and mean, and inferential statistics such as chi-square.

 

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 22.4 years and almost all (97.4%) were female. Likewise, 62.9% were from Bachelor of Science in Nursing and 37.1% from Bachelor of Nursing Science. Most (81.5%) had heard about Self-directed learning. The majority of the respondents (66.9%) had a high level of self-directed learning readiness and 33.1% of respondents had a low level of self-directed learning readiness. Similarly, among the three domains, self-control has the highest mean score 58.66 ± 6.61. The level of self-directed learning readiness was significantly associated with age (p=0.029), academic program (p=0.002), and academic year (p=0.010).

Conclusions: The nursing students have self-directed learning readiness. Age, academic year and academic program were statistically significant with the readiness level for self-directed learning.