Jtn. Makhathini et Lr. Uys, AN EVALUATION OF THE PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY OF DIPLOMATES FROM A COMPREHENSIVE NURSING PROGRAM, Nurse education today, 16(5), 1996, pp. 340-349
The aim of this South African study was to obtain a measurement of the
problem-solving ability of diplomates from a basic nursing programme
with this skill included in its programme objectives. The problem-solv
ing skills of diplomates from this programme were compared with those
of First years to determine if there is an improvement in the problem-
solving skills, A comparison was also made with a different basic prog
rammes not claiming to teach problem-solving. The research design sele
cted for this study was the ex post facto design. Data were collected
using the Triple jump Method which is an interview technique. The find
ings suggested that the level of the problem-solving skills of the com
prehensive nursing programme diplomate is not satisfactory, There was,
however, some improvement in the problem-solving ability from the fir
st to the fourth year, The level of performance of the fourth years wa
s slightly higher than that of the third years of the three-year nursi
ng programme, who were used as the control group, Recommendations on s
election teaching and evaluation of students, as well as further resea
rch, were made.