Malaysian nurses' experiences of an Australian degree

© 2002 Dr. Lee Huang ChiuThe purpose of this study was to explore Malaysian graduate nurses' perceptions of their educational experiences of an overseas post-registration degree programme conducted as a twinning venture by Victoria University, Australia and Assunta Hospital, Malaysia. The aim was to provide an understanding of how that learning experience had contributed to the Malaysian registered nurses' personal professional growth and professional learning. The scarcity of nursing degrees in Malaysia has resulted in twinning ventures between international universities and local educational institutions to offer post-registration nursing conversion degree programmes in Malaysia. Moreover, internationalising education implies that it is possible to actually take a curriculum from one part of the world to another, expecting it can be implemented in a different cultural context. The literature review indicated that no study has been undertaken to investigate the impact of such educational programmes on the Malaysian registered nurses' personal professional growth and professional leaming. Therefore, this study was warranted. It also emerged from a personal interest due to my own commitment to the development of such a programme. The conceptualisation of professionalisation through professional learning was taken from the three notions: professionalisation of nursing; professional development; and formal professional learning such as, the post-registration nursing conversion degree programme. A qualitative case study methodology was used. A purposive sample of twelve participants was voluntarily recruited from the first cohort of graduates five years after their completion of the degree. The data were collected in three phases: in-depth semi-structured individual interviews, journals and a focus group interview. Transcripts were coded and thematically analysed. The findings highlight that there are Malaysian nurses who are prepared to gain a better image and status for the profession. From their perceptions, the degree programme has impacted on their personal professional growth and professional learning by providing them with broad knowledge, increased self-image and self-confidence, critical and creative thinking ability, interpersonal skills, and research awareness and knowledge, and a readiness for professional participation. This has indirectly influenced their professional practice and delivery of quality nursing care. Although concern was raised about the recognition of the degree because of differences in accreditation criteria by the Malaysian governing body, some participants have gained promotion to senior positions. Additionally, there is enhanced interest in lifelong learning with two participants having achieved their master's degree, and others undertaking continuing educational programmes subsequent to the degree. The curriculum content with some suggested minor changes was perceived to be adequate to provide the Malaysian registered nurses with a foundational knowledge for professional practice. By and large, the findings indicate that a curriculum designed in the West can be taught and practised in another culture, provided there is a conscious blending of the culture into the curriculum. This study was confined only to one cohort of students from one particular University degree and from graduates' own perspectives, however it is a positive beginning