THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM - THE INTENTIONAL DESIGN OF PROBLEMS TO FACILITATE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF STUDENT LEARNING

This paper explores the deliberate design of 'problem' situations with in a 3-year problem-based nursing degree conducted at Griffith Univers ity, Nathan, Queensland, Australia. It examines problem situations wit hin the first and third yea rs of the course to illustrate the issues involved in designing material that enables students to achieve the cu rriculum aims. Although the problem situations are designed from the s ame health care setting, the discussion highlights how concepts and is sues can be addressed in different ways depending on the desired stude nt outcomes. The paper outlines and examines the nature of student lea rning and the clinical reasoning process used by students in making de cisions that closely mirror those made as registered nurses in order t o facilitate the achievement of clients' health goals.