PERCEPTION OF STUDENT NURSES OF AMERICAN-STYLE UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MONICA UNIVERSITY BUEA, SOUTHWEST CAMEROON

Abstract

American-style Universities are a response to the widespread awareness of the need to adapt to prevailing global standards. The study aimed at examining student nurses’ perception of some basic tenets of American-style University system of education of Saint Monica University (SMU) Buea, Southwest Cameroon. Analytical descriptive research design was used for the study which was guided by three research questions and one hypothesis. The total population of the study was 128 Nigerian students and the sample size consisted of all the 128 Nigerian students. The research instrument was a self structured and validated questionnaire titled “Perception of Student Nurses of American-style University of SMU Questionnaire (PSNAUSMUQ)”. Data was analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer research questions and Z-test to test the hypothesis at 0.05 alpha level of significance. Findings revealed grand means 4.23, 3.28 and 4.10 above the criterion mean of 3.00 for flexibility, student-centred curriculum and mode of study respectively. This implies that majority of respondents had strong positive perception that SMU operates of American-style University. H01 was retained as calculated z-test F value (1.114) was less than the z-critical F value (1.96), therefore, there is no significant difference in perception of student-centred curriculum between online and onsite student nurses of SMU. Conclusively, student nurses perceive SMU to operate flexible, student-centred curriculum and mode of study of American-style University. It is recommended that faculty board should include students to strengthen students’ centered curriculum and management should organize seminars for students’ enlightenment on basic tenets and modalities truly reflective of American-style University.