Cognitive Ability of Nursing Students Anchored in Outcomes-Based Education

Abstract

The 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) demands Higher Educations to adopt an up-to-date curriculum, innovative programs and align student skills according to the manpower needs of the modern society. Countries employed the Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) curriculum to ensure that their professionals uphold the expected third-world competencies. This study is sought to assess the cognitive skills and perception of the first-year nursing students in Isabela State University anchored to the OBE Curriculum of the 4IR. Mixed - method research approach was used to identify their perceptions of the OBE and assess their cognitive abilities. Simple Random Sampling Technique was used to select 51 participants. The adoption of the program showed an “Average” result in the learner’s mastery level. The subject Theoretical Foundation of Nursing (TFN) was substantiated to be the easiest subject taken by the learners out of the 8 Professional Subjects where test questions were mainly categorized as “Lower-Order-Thinking Skills”. On the other hand, Microbiology & Parasitology, where “Higher-Order-Thinking Skills” questions were assigned was found to be the most difficult. Their profile variable had no significant attribute to their cognitive abilities. Perceptively, most (36) learners had no idea about the nature and implementation of the OBE curriculum where the concurrent nursing program is integrated. Since factors were attributed to students, facilitators, and the OBE curriculum espousal, the abovementioned curriculum adoption and implementation need to be reinforced to meet the intended competencies of the modern global industrialization. Further studies need to be conducted that is aimed at scholarly enhancing the curriculum.