Qualitative Inquiry of Nurse Educators Transitioning From
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QUALITATIVE INQUIRY OF NURSE EDUCATORS TRANSITIONING FROM CLASSROOM TO ONLINE TEACHING by Barbara C. Sinacori DOROTHY PAXSON BARKER, PhD, Faculty Mentor and Chair EDNA HULL, PhD, Committee Member CHARLES KOZOLL, PhD, Committee Member Amy Smith, PhD, Dean, School of Education A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Capella University April 2017 © Barbara C. Sinacori, 2017 Abstract In response to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations of meeting the goal of 80% of RNs prepared at the BSN level by 2020, an increase in graduates from RN-to-BSN completion programs must occur. One approach to meeting the IOM goal included recommending nursing schools offer defined academic pathways beyond articulation agreements and promote access for nurses to higher education. This goal can be met through online education, which is an effective way to reach students that are more diverse. Online education, however, requires a different pedagogy than the traditional classroom. Online education, defined as the educational process where the majority of the instruction occurs when student and instructor are not in the same place, and utilizes audio, video, or computer technology. A basic qualitative design, using semi- structured interviews, is the model used for this study. Audio interviews were used which provided participants with the opportunity to describe the challenges they experience when transitioning from traditional classroom instruction to online learning environment educating RNs in BSN completion programs. A purposive homogeneous sampling strategy was used for this study. The population includes nurse educators who have transitioned from traditional classroom instruction to the online environment to educate practicing RNs enrolled in BSN completion programs. Although each participant had a unique transition experience, analysis of the data revealed three categories (faculty, students and online environment) and 20 common themes related to challenges experienced by nurse educators who transitioned from the traditional classroom to the online learning environment. The themes were categorized by faculty, students and online environment. This study appears to support the need for education related to the pedagogy of online learning. In an effort to address the contributions of this research study, the results give needed background information to the need for professional development and mentorship as nurse educators’ transition from the traditional classroom to the online environment. Based on the literature review and results of the interviews, nurse educators as well as higher education professionals can also utilize professional development in the pedagogy of online teaching/learning. Dedication This dissertation work is dedicated to my family. First, to my husband, John, who has been a constant source of support and encouragement during the challenges of graduate school and life in general. Second, to my children, Cody and Val, who I hope will learn that “determination is the strength to succeed.” This work is also dedicated to my parents, Lucille and Ben Schiavone, and my sister Catherine, who have always loved me unconditionally and whose good examples have taught me to work hard for the things that I aspire to achieve. iv Acknowledgments I would like to express the deepest appreciation to my committee chairs, Dr. Nancy Smulsky and Dr. Paxson Barker who have continually and convincingly conveyed a spirit of adventure about research and scholarship, and an excitement concerning teaching and writing. Without their guidance and persistent help, this dissertation would not have been possible. I would like to thank my committee members, Dr. Paxson Barker, Dr. Charles Kozoll and Dr. Edna Hull whose work demonstrated to me that concern for nursing education by an “engagement” in comparative literature and modern technology, should always transcend academia and provide a quest for our times. I would like to thank my fellow doctoral students- those who have moved on, those in the process, and those who are just beginning, for their support, feedback, and friendship. In addition, I would like to thank the participants of my study for their support. I would also like to thank Capella University for their financial support established through an annual grant, JFK Medical Center for their financial support through tuition reimbursement, and the ADSPN for their support by way of a nursing education scholarship. v Table of Contents Acknowledgments....................................................................................................v List of Tables ......................................................................................................... ix List of Figures……………………………………………………………………. x CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................1 Background of the Study .........................................................................................1 Need for the Study ...................................................................................................6 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................6 Significance of the Study .........................................................................................8 Research Question .................................................................................................10 Definition of Terms................................................................................................11 Research Design.....................................................................................................13 Assumptions and Limitations…………………………………………………….15 Organization of the Remainder of the Study .........................................................20 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ...........................................................................21 Methods of Searching ............................................................................................21 Theoretical Orientation for the Study ....................................................................22 Review of the Literature ........................................................................................28 Synthesis of the Research Findings .......................................................................41 Critique of Previous Research Methods ................................................................38 Summary ................................................................................................................42 CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY .....................................................................................44 vi Research Question .................................................................................................44 Research Design.....................................................................................................45 Target Population and Sample ...............................................................................46 Population .......................................................................................................46 Sample ............................................................................................................47 Procedures ..............................................................................................................48 Participant Selection .......................................................................................48 Protection of Participants ................................................................................50 Data Collection ...............................................................................................51 Data Analysis ..................................................................................................53 Instruments .............................................................................................................55 The Role of the Researcher .............................................................................55 Guiding Interview Questions ..........................................................................57 Ethical Considerations ...........................................................................................58 Summary ................................................................................................................61 CHAPTER 4. PRESENTATION OF THE DATA............................................................63 Introduction: The Study and the Researcher ..........................................................63 Description of the Sample ......................................................................................64 Research Methodology Applied to the Data Analysis ...........................................66 Presentation of Data and Results of the Analysis ..................................................68 Summary ................................................................................................................84 CHAPTER 5. DISCUSSION, IMPLICATIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS ....................85 vii Summary of the Results .........................................................................................87 Discussion of the Results .......................................................................................90 Comparison of Findings with Theoretical Framework and Previous Literature