The impact of active learning strategies on nursing students' attitudes towards communication, teamwork, and stress Management competency: A single-group pre- and post-intervention study

Background

Nursing students need soft skills to be better prepared for workplace challenges and learning strategies are important for teaching these skills.

Aim

This study aims to evaluate the impact of active learning on enhancing nursing students’ attitudes toward three soft skills: communication, teamwork, and stress management.

Methods

A group of ninety (n=90) students was studied using a quasi-experimental single-group design with matched pre- and post-test interventions. Three active learning methods were utilized to design a program aimed at developing soft skills that aligned with the nursing curriculum modules. The program consisted of a self-exploration session, three simulation sessions, and an educational World Café. Communication was measured using the Communication Skills Attitude Scale (CSAS); stress management was measured using the Stress Management Competency Scale (SMCS); and teamwork was measured using the teamwork, roles, and responsibilities subscale (IPAS).

Results

Following the program, there was a significant improvement in communication skills, attitudes, teamwork, and stress management competency.

Conclusions

Findings from this study can offer valuable insights for nurse educators worldwide, advocating for the early integration of these methods to foster soft skills development from the beginning of the students' professional journey.