Date of Completion

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Keywords

Faculty Shortage

Abstract

Purpose Statement This study aimed to determine the insights of the currently employed nursing faculty members in the Philippines. Specifically, the participants were asked the grand tour question: “What has been the impact of nursing faculty shortage, both classroom and clinical, on your teaching-learning experience as a faculty member?” (Ano ang naging epekto ng kakulangan ng mga nars na tagapagturo, pangsilid at pang-ospital, sa iyong karanasan bilang miyembro ng nars na tagapagturo?)

Scope and Limitations The study focused on how the nursing faculty shortage affected the teaching-learning experiences of the currently employed course professors and/or clinical instructors hailing from the different nursing schools in the Philippines for the academic year 2023-2024 only. The participants were from different affiliations that were not from the same institution as the researchers to ensure anonymity. They were gathered by the thesis adviser and point-person from the DLSMHSI College of Nursing Faculty. This allowed the researchers to extensively understand how the nationwide shortage affects nursing schools, with each participant being asked a grand tour question. Alongside the fact that this phenomenon is locally relevant, it allowed the researchers to determine its extent once or if problems were identified, creating themes that have been utilized to navigate and comprehend the results profoundly.

Methodology This study explored the teaching-learning experiences of nursing professors and clinical instructors in different nursing schools in the Philippines using a qualitative descriptive research design. Individual interview sessions with one (1) part-timer and five (5) full-time nursing faculty members were acquired to accomplish a saturated data. The recorded interviews were then transcribed manually verbatim, and each transcription was analyzed following the thematic analysis approach of Braun and Clarke (2022).

Findings After the data underwent an iterative process of thematic analysis and were scrutinized, four (4) themes emerged. The first theme, “Awareness in Crisis,” delves into the details of how nursing professors and clinical instructors were aware of the pressing problem, nursing faculty shortage. All participants acknowledged the phenomenon, stating that they were aware of the existing problem of nursing faculty shortage. This has been experienced by not one, but colleges of nursing nationwide. The second theme, "The Metaphorical Effects of the Crimean War," unveils the challenges that the nursing faculty experienced under the nursing faculty shortage. The participants shared their different testimonies about their experiences, focusing particularly on their time in clinical settings and lectures. They emphasized their emotions of sadness, dissatisfaction, stress and the challenges they faced as they embarked on this career. On the other hand, these difficulties never hindered them from stepping out. Instead, it made them realize their passion and commitment for teaching. The third theme, “A Nightingale’s Legacy,” showcases the strong intent of the participants to stay in the field. In the midst of the nursing faculty shortage and its challenges, all participants remained dedicated to their tasks as nursing educators. They expressed their passion for teaching, support for colleagues and students, and devotion to the nursing academe. The last theme, “A Lady with the Lamp,” discusses the suggestions and recommendations established by the participants in addressing the nursing faculty shortage. Additional hiring, increasing salary compensation, increasing resources like platform technologies, ensuring quality control management, and limiting student enrollees were some of the suggestions and recommendations as mentioned by the participants. Overall, the participants were able to articulate their insights, offering various strategies that were each based on their teaching-learning experiences.

Conclusion The findings of the study led to the conclusion that the nursing faculty is certainly aware of the existing concern, the nursing faculty shortage. Having obtained first-hand experiences from members of the nursing faculty hailing from varied campuses in the country provides a firm basis and support of the claims made by nurses belonging to distinct academic institutions. This number of factors contributes to the persisting-nature of the phenomenon, indicating that it is a multifaceted circumstance that diverges to various consequences in the academe and specifically to the teaching-learning experience, that to which may significantly hinder the student nurses’ quality of education. Consequently, these repercussions become palpable markers to inevitable prompts for adjustments and changes. This profound understanding of the effects of the nursing faculty shortage can pave the way for a guided and systemic change of management in helping alleviate its impacts that does not compromise the quality education provided by the colleges of nursing nationwide to the student nurses. It is essentially important to be aware of addressing problems accordingly. With this in mind, a set of strategies were suggested by the participants through a sequence of reflections echoed throughout their professional experience in both clinical and classroom settings within their respective academe.

First Advisor

Ma. Lovella M. Monderin-Aure RN, MA

Download

Share

COinS