Evaluation of Effectiveness of the Hidden Curriculum in Nursing Students: East Turkey

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the hidden curriculum in nursing education. This cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out among 235 nursing students. The “Student Information Form” and “Hidden Curriculum Assessment Scale in Nursing Education” were used to collect data from the participants. The mean scores that the students obtained from the hidden curriculum assessment scale, were 138.54±23.27. The variables, such as the faculty the students attended, whether they have chosen the profession willingly (p=0.000), the sufficiency of the professional education of the school (p=0.000), and whether they are happy with the school (p=0.000), affected their perceptions of the hidden curriculum. The students’ perceptions of the hidden curriculum of the institution were at a moderate level. In our study, those who considered the education at the school sufficient, those who chose the nursing profession willingly, and those who were happy with the school, obtained higher scores on the hidden curriculum assessment scale. In order to increase the quality of their graduates, higher education institutions that provide nursing education should aim to create and develop the hidden curriculum of the institution. Thus, the informal hidden curriculum, together with students’ needs and other creative aspects, can be recognised and integrated into the formal curriculum. In addition, interviews can be done with students to identify the factors that are making them unhappy, so that these aspects can be interrogated, in detail, to bring about changes to create a positive school climate.