Abstract:
The main purpose of this research was to explore factors affecting nursing trainees’
project work completion in the College of Community Health Nursing, Winneba. The
philosophical and theoretical perspectives or assumptions underpinning this study was
interpretative worldview or constructivist epistemology. A five year trend analyses of
the number of past students who could complete their project work was reviewed. The
study adopted a qualitative research approach and phenomenological research design.
The target population for this study consists of all nursing students at the College of
Community Health Nursing in Winneba. A sample of ten (10) final year nursing
trainees writing their project work were sampled through purposive sampling
procedure. The instrument used in the data collection was semi-structured interviews.
Data were analyzed thematically. The study revealed that institutional–related factors
contributing to nursing trainees’ inability to complete their research work were illequipped
libraries on campus, inadequate computer and poor Internet accessibility at
the computer labs, school calendar instability and lack of transparency in assessment of
project work. Student–related factors contributing to nursing trainees’ inability to
complete their research work were identified as poor time management, inadequate
finance, lack of commitment and motivation to do the research, lack of training and
experience in research methods and failure to meet regularly with the supervisor. It was
discovered that irregular accessibility to supervisors, long delays in providing feedback
on project work, little guidance and direction from supervisors and work load of
supervisors were supervision–related factors contributing to nursing trainees’ inability
to complete their research work. Finally, it was discovered through the respondents’
comments that well-equipped libraries on campus, adequate computers and good
internet accessibility at the computer labs, regular workshops to train students in
research methods and effective communication between supervisors and students were
some of the mechanisms can be put in place to alleviate the challenges nursing students
face concerning their research work. The study recommended that there is a need to
review research methods courses offered in the college, in terms of contents and
teaching approaches. If this is properly done, the weaknesses indicated by students are
likely to be minimized. Secondly, the college should strive to subject all students to
academic writing training, with a special focus on how to write research reports. The
Government, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service, should see to the
provision of adequate computers and LCD projectors for the College of Community
Health Nursing in Winneba. These facilities should not only be sufficient in number,
but should also be of good quality.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Educational Administration and Management, Faculty of Educational Studies, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Philosophy (Educational Administration and Management) in the University of Education, Winneba
DECEMBER 2021