The 21st Century Skills of Baccalaureate Nursing Graduates from Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Chon Buri

Abstract

           This descriptive study was conducted to investigate the 21^st century skills of baccalaureate nursing graduates from Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Chon Buri. A self-administered questionnaire developed by Kamolrat Turner and others based on Trilling and Fadel’s framework including 3Rs-Reading, (w)Riting, (a)Rithmetic) and 7Cs-1) Critical Thinking and Problem Solving; 2) Creativity and Innovation; 3) Cross-cultural Understanding; 4) Collaboration, Teamwork and Leadership; 5) Communications, Information, and Media Literacy; 6) Computing and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy; and 7 Career and Learning Skills was used. The sample was composted of 226 nursing graduates of Academic Year BE. 2557. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

The research findings revealed that total average mean score of 21^st century skills of the sample was at a good level (= 4.01). The category of 3Rs-Reading, (w)Riting, (a)Rithmetic) had lowest mean score ( x̄= 3.17) while the category of Career and Learning Skills had highest mean score ( x̄= 4.25). The analysis of each item found that the mean scores of the items under the 3Rs category were at moderate to good ( x̄= 2.99- 4.39). The skills relating to English were lower than others. The mean scores of all items under other categories including ) Critical Thinking and Problem Solving; Creativity and Innovation; Cross-cultural Understanding; Collaboration, Teamwork and Leadership; Communications, Information, and Media Literacy; Computing and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy; and Career and Learning skills were at good level ( x̄ = 3.81- 3.95, x̄ = 3.61- 4.02, x̄ = 4.08- 4.19, x̄ = 3.89- 4.31, x̄ = 3.90- 4.09, x̄ = 4.06- 4.27, x̄= 4.11- 4., respectively).

The results of this study can be used to develop the guidelines to prepare nursing education institutions and curricular to enhance the 21^st century skills needed for current health services.