Collaborative learning and competence development in school health nursing

TY - JOUR

T1 - Collaborative learning and competence development in school health nursing

AU - Nordentoft, Helle Merete

AU - Wistoft, Karen

PY - 2012/8/22

Y1 - 2012/8/22

N2 - PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the process and learning outcomes of peer collaboration in a Danish health developmental project in school health nursing. The paper explores how peer collaboration influences the school nurses’ collaborative learning and competence development.Design/methodology/approachThe article is based on data from a three-year health educational development project at primary schools in Denmark. These data are a) Observations from 12 reflective workshops with school nurses b) Two questionnaire surveys c) 5 focus group interviews with 5 of the 6 subprojects after the project was over. In the workshops, the questionnaire surveys and the focus group interviews the school nurses were asked to reflect on the developmental process, their collaboration, own and mutual pedagogical competence development.FindingsSystematic peer collaboration between school nurses’ qualify a) their learning and ability to reflect on practice b) their communication with colleagues and children c) the development of new and innovative approaches to school health nursing. The introduction of peer collaboration, however, takes time and energy and it can be challenge to introduce peer collaboration in a working culture in which school nurses traditionally work alone under a prominent work and time pressure. Research limitations/implicationsThe study is explorative. Further research may explore the connection between collaborative learning among school nurses and the development of their competences in school health nursing.Practical implicationsThe paper outlines how and why collaboration among school nurses should be introduced in a more systematic way in school health nursing.Originality/valueThe paper investigates the connection between informal educational activities for SNs and possible learning outcomes for practice. Specifically the paper looks into different ways SNs collaborate and the findings contribute to new understandings of how SNs practice can be organised in order to stimulate the nurses’ participation and collaborative learning and increase the quality of school health nursing.

AB - PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the process and learning outcomes of peer collaboration in a Danish health developmental project in school health nursing. The paper explores how peer collaboration influences the school nurses’ collaborative learning and competence development.Design/methodology/approachThe article is based on data from a three-year health educational development project at primary schools in Denmark. These data are a) Observations from 12 reflective workshops with school nurses b) Two questionnaire surveys c) 5 focus group interviews with 5 of the 6 subprojects after the project was over. In the workshops, the questionnaire surveys and the focus group interviews the school nurses were asked to reflect on the developmental process, their collaboration, own and mutual pedagogical competence development.FindingsSystematic peer collaboration between school nurses’ qualify a) their learning and ability to reflect on practice b) their communication with colleagues and children c) the development of new and innovative approaches to school health nursing. The introduction of peer collaboration, however, takes time and energy and it can be challenge to introduce peer collaboration in a working culture in which school nurses traditionally work alone under a prominent work and time pressure. Research limitations/implicationsThe study is explorative. Further research may explore the connection between collaborative learning among school nurses and the development of their competences in school health nursing.Practical implicationsThe paper outlines how and why collaboration among school nurses should be introduced in a more systematic way in school health nursing.Originality/valueThe paper investigates the connection between informal educational activities for SNs and possible learning outcomes for practice. Specifically the paper looks into different ways SNs collaborate and the findings contribute to new understandings of how SNs practice can be organised in order to stimulate the nurses’ participation and collaborative learning and increase the quality of school health nursing.

KW - Collaborative learning

KW - Peer collaboration

KW - Peer observation

KW - School health nursing

KW - Pedagogical competence development

KW - Grundskole

KW - Tværfaglighed

KW - Kompetenceudvikling

KW - Grundskole

KW - Tværfaglighed

KW - Kompetenceudvikling

U2 - 10.1108/09654281211253452

DO - 10.1108/09654281211253452

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0017-8969

VL - 112

SP - 448

EP - 464

JO - Health Education Journal

JF - Health Education Journal

IS - 5

ER -