Relevance of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Vis-À-Vis the Nursing Profession in the 21st Century

Abstract

Student outcomes measure the quality of education. Hence, the educational institutions offering the Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) programs are required by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to conduct a tracer study regularly. This investigation traced the employability of Bachelor of Science in Nursing [BSN] graduates of the University of Cebu-Banilad for the school years 2020 to 2023, with the end view of formulating a proposed program-level intervention plan.

This study utilized the descriptive survey research design. The study was conducted at the various workplaces of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates of the University of Cebu – Banilad Campus for the school years 2020 to 202, wherein there were fifty-two (52) graduates. The instrument used in this study is the modified CHED Graduate Tracer Study [GTS] survey questionnaire. Aside from the face-to-face administration of the survey tool, another means of data collection was Google Forms, wherein the link was sent to each respondent’s Facebook Messenger account. Simple percentages and rankings were applied for data analysis. The researchers ensured that the ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and autonomy were adhered to in this investigation.

The result shows that the majority of the respondents were 23 years old, females, passed the licensure examination, underwent the Basic Life Support training, worked locally, worked as professionals, divulged that their college curriculum was related to their job, learned communications skill that is useful in the first job, they considered accepting the job because of career challenge. At the same time, more of them took the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree because of the profession's status or prestige, were able to find a job in less than a month as a walk-in applicant, and earned a gross monthly income of Php15,000.00 to below Php 20,000.00. Moreover, all were single during the survey. Moreover, the respondents divulged that they greatly manifested the College of Nursing's vision as a leading producer of  accessible and quality nursing producing globally competent nurses; the College of Nursing's mission to maintain a healthy educational setting which fosters quality performance, satisfaction and life-long learning through research-based instruction and community extension; the College of Nursing's goals in adapting competency standards in instruction learning resources, and educational services, promoting leadership among faculty in the service of the community, and fostering a pool of highly motivated competent and compassionate faculty and students in the pursuit of personal and professional development; the College of Nursing core values (nurturing, unity, respect, service, excellence); the BSN Program Educational Objectives (PEOs), stipulations in the CHED Memorandum Order [CMO] No. 15, Series of 2017 for Bachelor of Science in Nursing [BSN] program and the performance indicators for the BSN program. Moreover, they greatly attained the BSN Program Outcomes (POs).