Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

2 Department of Nursing, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran,

3 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan Branch, Isfahan,

4 Chronic Disease Care Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Students tend to internalize and perpetuate the patterns of behavior and
the values surrounding them. Review of literature showed that there are several student
learning sources through the hidden curriculum, but they have not been identified in nursing
yet. Hence, the purpose of this study is explanation of learning resources in the hidden
curriculum in the view of baccalaureate nursing students. Materials and Methods: This
qualitative study was carried out in 2012 with the participation of 32 baccalaureate
nursing students in Nursing and Midwifery College of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of
Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran by purposeful sampling strategies. Data were collected
by semi‑structured interviews and continued to the level of data saturation and themes’
emergence. Data analysis was performed through inductive content analysis method.
Result: “Instructor as the unique learning element,” “various learning resources in the
clinical setting,” and “instructive nature of the education environment” were extracted as
the main themes, each of which incorporated some categories. Conclusion: Baccalaureate
undergraduate nursing students learnt the hidden curriculum by the resources such as
instructors, resources existing in the clinical setting, and the university campus. Therefore,
more research is recommended for the identification of other resources. In order to promote
positive messages and reduce the negative messages of the hidden curricula running at
academic and clinical settings, nursing educators and nurses need to learn more about
this issue in the nursing profession.

Keywords

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