A model for facilitation in nursing education.

A key step in the development of a model for learning is to identify the needs of both the facilitators and the learners. The purpose of this study was to develop a model for facilitation in nursing education based on the identified needs of facilitators and learners and a confirmation by the literature. A qualitative research design was used and the population of the study was the facilitators and the learners of departments/schools of nursing in four universities in South Africa. Focus group interviews were conducted with facilitators and learners. The sample was purposively selected. The results underline the needs as well as the perceptions of both facilitators and learners with regard to facilitation. Concepts were identified and analyzed from the identified needs which led to the development of the model for facilitation. The complete visual model was described and presented to experts for evaluation. Feedback from the evaluators was used to adapt and finalize the model, after which the model was again presented to evaluators who approved and accepted it. The model is a unique contribution to nursing education as it sets guidelines for a new field of learning in nursing education.