Developing a model to facilitate the preparedness of inexperienced research professionals for a joint research journey in nursing education institutions

Abstract

Background: The post-graduate completion period plays a significant role in individual career development and funding research activities in Nursing Education institutions (NEIs). Nursing Education institutions must produce more post-graduate research nursing students (PGRNSs) and supervisors to sustain and enhance research funding opportunities. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of information and documentation on strategies to improve supervisors’ and students’ preparedness for collaboration throughout the post-graduate study.
Objectives: The study aims to describe the process followed when developing a model to facilitate the preparedness of post-graduate students and research supervisors for a joint research journey.
Method: The study utilised a theory-generating, qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design, grounded by Chinn and Kramer’s four stages of model development to achieve the aim. The four steps guided the conceptual framework for the development of the model. Data collected from 16 postgraduate students and 12 research supervisors were analysed with content thematic analysis.
Results: Four themes were generated; perceptions regarding postgraduate supervision provided or received, perceptions regarding preparedness for the research journey, support systems influencing preparedness for the research journey and hope for change in the research progress when concerns are addressed. Facilitating preparedness, resilience and research support were the main concepts that grounded the process of the model development.
Conclusion: The successfully developed model provides a reference framework for improving the completion period of postgraduate studies. As the model has not been tested as yet, we recommend future studies to test the validity and reliability of the model in enhancing preparedness and improving the post-graduate throughput rate.
Contribution: The findings advance human capacity development, such as nurses with master’s and PhD qualifications – as inexperienced research professionals.