Undergraduates’ experiences of the post RN BScN program, Karachi, Pakistan

Introduction: Nursing education has a major responsibility in preparing nurses for clinical practice. In Pakistan, most of the nurses are diploma qualified. Post Registered Nurse Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Post-RN BScN) program plays a substantial role in the transition from diploma to degree. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the experiences of graduates of Post-RN BScN for the successful implementation and quality improvement of the program. Objectives:  This study explored the strengths and weaknesses of the Post-RN BScN through experiences of the nurses who completed the BSc N program in 2015 in nursing education institutions in Karachi, Pakistan. Methodology: The qualitative descriptive exploratory study was designed to explore the experiences of the nurses who completed the Post-RN BScN in 2015. Purposive sampling was used for data collection through semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed through the content analysis method, through which sub-themes and themes emerged. Results: The study participants from a public sector highlighted the strengths of program, such as integration of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice, having graduate qualified faculty, and having appropriate technological and education resources. Whereas, majority of the participants were concerned about the lack of integration of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice, under qualified faculty with unsatisfactory teaching competencies, inaccessibility to and unavailability of resources. Conclusion: The study provided recommendations for stakeholders for improvement in the quality of nursing education by addressing major areas such as integration of theory into practice, competencies and shortage of the faculty members, and provision of technological and educational resources.