Concept Teaching in Nursing

Authors

  • Peggy Saunders

Abstract

ONE difficulty encountered by nurses is that of developing a theoretical framework upon which nursing can be based. A concomitant problem is operationalizing the theoretical model. This paper describes how one college programme dealt with the problem. As explained by Schumacher the programme assumed a core of nursing applicable to all clinical areas. The goal was to recognize relationships among general concepts of the phenomenal field, specific concepts within a phenomenal field, and the symptoms of illness (l). How could learning experiences be provided that would result in concept learning and recognition of relationships among concepts? Bruner states: Jerome S. Bruner. The Process of Education" To learn structure, in short is to learn how things are related. Grasping the structure of a subject is understanding it in a way that permits many other things to be related to it meaningfully (2). The Webster dictionary defines structure as the arrangement of parts or elements; it defines concept as a mental image or impression of an object, person or event, an abstract notion (3). If the learner was provided with experiences representing a variety of parts (structure) of an abstract notion (concept), then relationships should be recognized among general concepts of the phenomenal field and specific concepts within that field. This became the rationale for the organization of nursing courses.

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Published

1973-04-13

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Section

Articles