FACULTY SUPPORT AND STUDENTS\' ACHIEVEMENT IN NUSA UTARA STATE POLYTECHNIC, TAHUNA - INDONESIA

Faculty Support and Students’……

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FACULTY SUPPORT AND STUDENTS’ACHIEVEMENT IN NUSA UTARA STATE POLYTECHNIC, TAHUNA - INDONESIA

Meistvin Welembuntu

Historically, the development of

course of their experience in the study of

nursing in Indonesia is slow due to several

nursing. Faculty should show the

constraints related to both policy and

enthusiasm to encourage the students in

implementation which is directly related

their development, study, and at the same

to education and care. Nursing colleges

time, the faculty must be active, where it

were established in 1962 and in January of

is in guiding the students to learn the right

1983, through the National Workshop on

things in the right manner and at the right

Nursing I, nursing was recognized as a

time.

profession that has the identity of the autonomous skilled professional. There were three types of nursing

Nursing should adjust with the changing world and the changing needs as well as the demands of the society. The

education in Indonesia before 1997,

nursing education in Indonesia is left

namely: the Bachelor Science of Nursing,

behind with the standard of nursing

Diploma nursing program, and Secondary

practice in the globe. Nursing is not

high school level of nursing. In 1997

simply a collection of specific skills, and

minimum educational standard for nursing

not simply a person trained to perform

entry to practice was established as the

specific skills. Nursing is a profession. To

diploma of nursing (Saha, 2006). In 2002,

become a nurse, it requires significant

Sangihe Regency government established

amount of formal education. Because of

Nursing Academy to produce Diploma III

that, it is important to develop the

nurses, and in 2006 that said school

educational system in Indonesia to

expanded and became Nusa Utara

research the global standard, and it can

Polytechnic.

increase the quality of nursing care or

The nursing students meet many problems

health care in locally and globally.

and have to make many adjustments in the

Faculty Support and Students’……

The study aimed to determine the

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The limited resources (facilities

extent of faculty support and its

and faculty) and the large number of

relationship to the students’ achievements

students became the reason why the

and stress levels. The descriptive-

traditional method is applied. According

correlational research design was used in

to Moyer and Wittmann-Price (2008),

this research. The independent variables

lecture is a common technique in teaching.

are the extent of faculty support with two

It is suited to large groups and provides

indicators: psychological and functional

minimal exchange between student and

support, and faculty profile in terms of

faculty. The faculty does most of the

educational qualifications and year of

talking and students mainly listen and

experience.

write. However,

it

disadvantages

well.

The dependent variables are

as

does

have

Moyer

and

students’ achievement which includes

Wittmann-Price (2008), stated that lecture

knowledge, skill, and attitude, and stress

does not to focus on individual learning

level of student nurses in academic,

styles.

clinical, and personal concerns. The

An educator’s does not merely

moderate variable is the modalities of

support the intellectual growth of the

instruction.

students but the psychological and

The participants for this study

emotional growth as well. The faculty of

were all the 3rd year diploma III nursing

Nusa Utara State Polytechnic is able to

students in Nusa Utara State Polytechnic

give such support to their students,

located

functionally and psychologically. In the

in

Tahuna,

North

Sulawesi

Province, Indonesia. Findings of this study were the

study of Dapremont (2011), it is stated that faculty support and encouragement

faculty of Nusa Utara State Polytechnic

are important to students and is their

employs a variety of teaching modality in

affecting success. Students in this study

the teaching-learning activity. Lecture is

revealed that they received high extent of

still the modality of choice by the majority

psychological support from the faculty.

as well as group discussion. Laboratory

Psychological supports comes in the form

demonstrations and clinical practicum are

of motivation, respecting their individual

also used.

differences, giving them reinforcement,

Faculty Support and Students’……

valuing their ideas and opinion, awareness

setting where the student of nursing may

of their performance and achievement, are

be having learning experiences.

approacheable and patient witht their

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Results of this study showed that

limitations, listening to students’ concerns,

generally student nurses of Nusa Utara

sensitive of their difficulties, and avoids

State Polytechnic perceived a high level of

belittling their efforts.

achievement in terms of knowledge and

Functional support is high

skills, also perceived very high level of

according to the students of Nusa Utara

achievement in terms of attitude. The

State Polytechnic. According to the

competencies of knowledge and skills are

students, majority of the faculty serve as

embodied in the curriculum for the

role models of good behavior, presented

Diploma III nursing in Indonesia.

information clearly, provided explanation

The attitudes that have developed

to complex topics, implemented rules and

in students while studying nursing are the

regulation that are reasonable and flexible,

following:

gave feedback on students’ asignments on

prejudice, respect for the health care team

time, demonstrated nursing skills,

members, appreciation of the of intra and

corrected students with tact and respect,

interpersonal collaboration, integrity in the

used varied teaching methods, provided

practice of nursing profession, giving the

fair evaluation, and provided study guides

best efforts in duties and responsibilities,

and wiritten materials to help them in

dedication to be a good nurse, patience to

learning.

the clients, confidence with knowledge

According to Basavanthappa

treating

clients

without

and skills, based actions on the nursing

(2003), faculty has a complex role,

ethics, and the capacity to adapt easily in

involving a series activities such as

different areas of nursing.

supplying information, explaining,

Potter and Perry (2009) said that

clarifying and interpreting, demonstrating

nursing is an art and a science. As a

or explaining a procedure, a process,

professional, a nurse learns to deliver care

serving as a resource person and

artfully with compassion, caring, and

supervising students performance in the

respect for each client’s dignity and

classroom, the laboratory and in any other

personhood. As a science, nursing is based on a body of knowledge that is continually

Faculty Support and Students’……

changing

with

new

discoveries

and

innovations.

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multiple school commitments leaving them tired with no time to do anything but

While studying nursing, It is

study and prepare for the next lecture,

typical for a student to experience stress.

examination, and clinical day. Along with

Students in Nusa Utara State Polytechnic

the academic pressures, students must take

experienced a high level of stress in the

responsibility for themselves, must seek

academics.

stressors

acceptance from their peers in a world of

identified by the students are fear of

mix values, and begin more intimate

failing the course, overwhelming amount

relationships. Students have no time for

of lessons to be learned, too many

physical contact or communication with

assignments, difficulty of assignments,

family and friends.

very short

The

academic

deadline

of

assignments,

This study shows that there is a

limited books to support learning, surprise

significant relationship between faculty

examination,

support and students’ achievements. This

dissatisfaction

with

the

grades, limited access to internet and

means that the high level of functional and

computers.

psychological support given by the faculty

Marille et al (2004) describes stress as

to the students is a significant intervention

common to life experience that can

affecting students’ achievements

positively or negatively affect individuals

positively. The study of Shelton (2003) on

by

Faculty Support and Student Retention

either

motivating

or

hindering

achievement. Haskins (2008) also added

supports this. It states that students who

that students who studied more perceived

persisted in a nursing program had a

greater academic pressures than those who

significantly greater perceived faculty

studied less.

support, in terms of both psychological

In the clinical setting, students

and functional support than the students

experienced moderate level of stress, as

who withdrew either voluntarily or

well as in their personal lives. The study

because of academic failure.

of Junious (2008) entitled Student Stress and Perceived Faculty Support revealed that, all students describe being in the nursing school as having no life, with

The result of this study shows that there is no significant relationship between faculty support and student nurses stress. The high level of support

Faculty Support and Students’……

given by the faculty to the students does not diminish their experience to stress. The findings in the study Junious (2008)

1. The administrator of Nusa Utara State Polytechnic should: a.

enhance the curriculum and

entitled Student Nurses Stress and

educational standard to

Perceived Faculty Support supports this.

conform to global

The study revealed that students received

standards.

high level of support from the faculty still

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b.

establish a baccalaureate

experience stress while studying in the

degree in nursing to adapt

nursing program.

with the minimum standard

This study revealed that there is no significant relationship between students’

for nursing practice. c.

on the orientation of

achievement and student nurses stress. The students’ achievement is not influenced by the student nurses stress.

instructors; d.

responsibilities,

(2008) on The Predictive Value of

compensation and benefits

Nursing Student and Faculty Variables on

and other issues related to

Success. It was found out that there is no

nurses stress and their GPA. Stress is inevitable in the study of nursing and the students were able to experience this in the academics, clinical area and in their personal life. Not all stress according to Seaward (2006) is bad. The stress will be good, if stress serves as a positive motivation, it is considered beneficial.

provide a faculty manual detailing their duties and

This is supported by the study of McAfee

significant relationship between student

establish a clear protocol

their employment; e.

address needs of the instructor in holistic manner by organizing seminars/training activities to improve teachinglearning activities, personal development, spiritual growth, psychological and emotional growth as well

Based on the findings of the study, the

as financial growth. This

following are recommended for:

should be done at least two to three times per year.

Faculty Support and Students’……

f.

g.

develop a standardized

k.

of the school population)

evaluation tool and conduct

computer units for student

regular and periodic

use inside the campus

evaluation of clinical

anytime to help comply

instructors by students,

with their requirements.

peers, and supervisors at

This can be placed in the

least once per semester;

library and study areas of

establish a guidance and

the students for easy and

counseling office to

free access; l.

support given to the students the soonest

h.

throughout the campus; m. make available the computers in the computer

next school-year;

laboratory when not in use

create consultation rooms

for classes. This can be

in the school where

done under the supervision; n.

benchmarking activities

the faculty with

should be done periodically

confidentiality within the

with other institution

next semester;

abroad to enhance

increase and update the

curriculum, facilities and

number of books, journals

competencies for faculty

and other resources in the

and students.

library within every year; j.

good internet acces all

possible time, within the

students can consult with

i.

purchase at least 80 (20%

faculty performance

enhance the psychological

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o.

establish a dormitory for

improve library comfort for

the students who come

students with adequate

from out of town;

lighting, space, ambiance,

p.

give the opportunity for

looking into the latest

students to become part-

innovations in library

time worker in the school;

learning;

Faculty Support and Students’……

q.

establish a time for the

boundaries at the same

students and faculty, like an

time; d.

prepare his/her subject

semester;

matter plan based on the

open the institution’s

objectives set but flexible

website for the students

enough to consider students

easily to acces their grades,

limitations and needs;

be updated with

s.

be approachable but setting

gathering day of the

acquaintance party once per

r.

c.

e.

make use of varied

announcements, and enroll

modalities of instruction so

especially for the students

the students able to

who come from out of

understand more and enjoy

town;

learning at the same time;

continue to

f.

establish clear rules and

support/subsidize the

regulations, objective,

continuing education of the

expectations, grading

faculty.

criteria early on in the

2. The Clinical Instructor or

student-teacher

faculty of Nusa Utara State

relationship;

Polytechnic should: a.

b.

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g.

advocate continuous

have a consultation time for

learning by attending

students to address students

seminars and training at

needs in the academics and

least twice a year or even

clinical areas as well as

more to improve

personal needs;

knowledge, skills and

respect the individuality of

attitude;

the students, aware with

h.

be open to feedback in

their limitations and

evaluations given by

carefully study their

students, peers and

strengths;

superiors; and

Faculty Support and Students’……

i.

continue to be supportive to students.

3. The Indonesia Government should: a. establish the graduate nursing program in North Sulawesi province, to open opportunities for nursing professionals to pursue their graduate education;

b. provide scholarship for the faculty for continuing study in Indonesia or abroad; and c. benchmark with universities and colleges abroad to set standards that are globally acceptable. 4. Further studies should still be conducted on faculty support and students’ achievement.

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