Student engagement in higher education: A cross-sectional study of nursing students' particpation in college-based education in the republic of Ireland

Background: Student achievement within the Higher Education Sector is predicated upon engagement with college/university life and engagement is identified as having a major impact on the acquisition of knowledge and cognitive growth. Evidence within the higher education sector identifies factors which impact positively and negatively on student engagement. However, the direct application of this evidence to nursing students whose programmes of study are fundamentally different to other non-professional degrees has not, as yet, been examined. Objectives: To explore undergraduate nursing students' engagement in college-based education and their perceptions of how their institutions support student engagement. Design: Cross-sectional survey design. Settings: Four Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Republic of Ireland. Participants: Nursing students in first and final year (n = 634) undertaking a four-year Bachelor of Science Nursing (honours degree). Methods: The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) self-report questionnaire, which collects data on four core areas related to student engagement, was used. The statistical package SPSS version 21 was used to analyse the data. Independent t-tests were used to compare differences in engagement between students, depending on year of study (first and final year), institution type, and age. Results: Students engaged most in activities that are considered core to higher education: higher order learning, collaborative learning and effective learning strategies. Although students perceived that lecturers engaged in effective teaching practices, they reported limited out of class interaction with lecturers. Conclusions: The insight gained from this study of the educational realities of contemporary nursing students will provide clarity for nurse educators, regulators, and policymakers in their efforts to support and enhance student engagement.