A multi-method approach for examining the academic performance of baccalaureate nursing students in Riyadh city

Joint Event on 45^th World Congress on Nursing Care & 8^th European Breast Congress

December 11-13, 2017 | Rome, Italy

Manal Fehade Al Wahbi Al Harbi

King Saud University College of Nursing, Saudi Arabia

Keynote: J Nurs Res Pract

Abstract :

Background: In Saudi Arabia, nursing students who have used English as the main language for their academic studies may struggle academically because Arabic is their native language. The use of a self-report tool to measure levels of English language proficiency may provide an early identification of nursing students at risk of underperformance. Design: A study with a descriptive correlational design using a multi-method approach was performed to achieve the study aim. Methods: The study was conducted at the College of Nursing of King Saud University over a two-month period in 2017. A purposeful sample of 136 nursing students was included. The questionnaire developed in this study included a section about the use of ELAS as a valid and reliable scale and other sections to collect general data, including items related to students� academic grades and other characteristics from the literature that are related to the mode of instruction. Result: The relationship between ELAS scores and grade point average (GPA) did no show a correlation, except for the language used in reading. Approximately 71% of the study respondents had low ELAS scores, and approximately 58% had a very good GPA. Conclusion: Internal motivation, study challenge and entrance GPA were predictors of academic performance. A further study assessing the English language proficiency scale among nursing students who are instructed using an English as a second language (ESL) mode is required.

Biography :

Manal Fehade Al Wahbi Al Harbi finished her Doctoral study from Faculty of Life And Health Sciences at Ulster University, UK. Her research was about cultural competence of nurses who work in multicultural health care organization within western region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Her Master’s degree in Nursing awarded by King Saud University in maternal child health nursing. Her research interest includes multidisciplinary approach in research methodology, mixed method research, qualitative research, clinical teaching, cultural issues in maternal-pediatric health, child health and neonatal health.