Title: A qualitative study on cognitive load of Chinese nurses attending epilepsy specialist nurse training
Abstract:
Background: There is a shortage of epilepsy nurses in China at present, and it is necessary to train epilepsy nurses. The specialized knowledge of epilepsy is complex, and the standardized curriculum and training mode are very important in the training of specialized nursing personnel.
Objective: We aimed to explore the characteristics of cognitive load of Chinese nurses attending the training of domestic epilepsy nurses.
Methods or approaches: The phenomenological research method was applied to conduct face-to-face, semi-structured and in-depth personal interviews with 10 trainees who participated in the theoretical training of epileptic nurses in Jilin Province, China in November 2023, and qualitative thematic analysis was used for data analysis.
Results: The findings revealed 3 themes and 6 subthemes. Topic 1: Epilepsy specialist training nurses have a high internal load. Sub-topics:
- Nurses' theoretical foundation of epilepsy specialty is weak, and specialized knowledge is lacking;
- The subject knowledge of epilepsy is complex, including neurophysiology, anatomy, electroencephalogram, etc. Nurses need to master more content, resulting in more difficult learning tasks.
Theme 2: The combination of multiple teaching methods can reduce external load. Sub-topics:
- Apply digital and information-based multimedia teaching to facilitate nurses to understand and memorize difficult knowledge points;
- The combination of case analysis, workshops and other forms of training can help nurses distinguish between different types of seizures, and better combine the theory with the clinic to form the clinical nursing thinking of epilepsy specialty.
Topic 3: Increasing associated cognitive load can improve nurses' learning efficiency. Subtopic;
Solid career belief is the motivation for students to learn;
Timely feedback and guidance in the training will help students to reflect on themselves and adjust their learning status.
Conclusion: The internal load of Chinese nurses in the process of attending the training of domestic epilepsy nurses is large, and the theoretical level of Chinese nurses engaged in epilepsy nursing needs to be improved. Reducing the internal and external load and increasing the associated load can improve the training effect. In the future, we can consider applying Bloom's taxonomy model of educational objectives in cognitive fields to the training curriculum of epilepsy nurses to reduce the internal load, using VR and other virtual reality technologies to provide students with simulated clinical operation experience, and combining Bandura's social learning theory and a variety of teaching methods to reduce the external load. At the same time, the thinking mode of learning, thinking and acting in Confucianism of traditional Chinese culture can also reduce the external cognitive load. Solid career belief is the motivation for nurses to learn, and good career planning and practice environment are conducive to the training of epilepsy nursing professionals.
Audience Take Away:
- First of all,this study provides reference for standardizing the training curriculum of epilepsy nurses.
- Secondly,Bloom's taxonomic model of educational objectives in the cognitive domain and Bandura's social learning theory mentioned in this study can be applied to the training of specialized nurses in other fields.
- Finally,the results of this study on nurses' associated load prove that nursing managers have the responsibility to provide a good practice environment for nurses, and nursing educators have the responsibility to guide nurses to make career planning and establish a solid career belief.
