Nursing education in Pakistan has undergone a transformation from being diploma-based to being degree-based in the past few decades. This change has led to a shift from training to education in the preparation of nurses, accompanied by a paradigm shift from school education to university education in nursing. Minimal evidence is available to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the educational environment in nursing colleges after this change. Hypothetically, a favorable environment may produce nurses who improve their patients’ health and provide high-quality care. The objectives of this study were twofold: first, to evaluate nursing students’ perceptions of the educational environment at the Shifa College of Nursing, Islamabad, Pakistan through a survey utilizing the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) inventory, and second, to compare these perceptions according to gender and enrollment in the Generic Bachelor of Science in Nursing (GBSN) or Post-Registered Nurse Bachelor of Science in Nursing (PRBSN) programs.

Of the participants, 57.5% (126) were female and 42.5% (93) were male, and 140 (63.9%) were in the GBSN program, while the remaining 79 (36.1%) were in the PRBSN program. A total of 6 classes participated in the study: 4 from the GBSN and 2 from the PRBSN.

The overall total average DREEM score was 119 of 200, indicating a more positive than negative educational environment in the college. The mean scores of the subscales were as follows: PoL, 30 of 48 (‘a more positive PoL’); PoCT, 26 of 44 (‘moving in the right direction’); ASP, 21 of 32 (‘feeling more on the positive side’); and PoA, 29 of 48 (‘a more positive attitude’). However, the SSP subscale score was 13 of 28, corresponding to the educational environment being ‘not a nice place’ (Table 1). Data file of the DREEM survey is available from Supplement 1.

The independent t-test results showed significant differences in the overall mean scores between the GBSN participants (113±14.76) and the PRBSN participants (129±12.05) (P< 0.0001). Significant differences were likewise found in the mean scores for PoL (28±4.96 vs. 33±3.69, P<0.0001), PoCT (25± 5.25 vs. 28±4.46, P<0.0001), ASP (20±4.27 vs. 23±3.12, P< 0.0001), and PoA (27±5.39 vs. 31±3.45, P<0.0001). In contrast, no significant difference was observed for SSP (13±3.66 vs. 14±3.58, P=0.407) (Table 2).

Mean scores of <2.00 are reflective of problem areas in the educational environment. The italicized items are negative statements in the questionnaire. The following items had a mean score of <2.00 from students in both programs: ‘teaching helps to develop my competence,’ ‘teaching overemphasizes factual learning,’ ‘(I am) clear about the learning objectives,’ ‘course teachers ridicule their students,’ ‘course teachers appear to have effective communication skills,’ ‘I am confident about passing this year,’ ‘atmosphere is relaxed during lectures,’ ‘atmosphere is relaxed during seminars/tutorials,’ ‘I am rarely bored in this course,’ ‘my social life is good,’ ‘I seldom feel lonely,’ and ‘my accommodations are pleasant.’ PRBSN students reported better scores than GBSN students for the following items: ‘teaching is too teacher-centered’ (2.46±1.11 vs. 1.95±1.17), ‘cheating is a problem in this course’ (2.14±1.30 vs. 1.84±1.36), and ‘there is a good support system for students who get stressed’ (2.49± 1.29 vs. 1.31±1.34). In contrast, GBSN students reported better scores for ‘course teachers get angry in teaching sessions’ (2.05 ±1.24 vs. 1.54±1.32) and ‘I find the experience disappointing’ (2.13±1.17 vs. 1.71±1.29) (Table 3).

Significant differences in the overall mean scores were found between male students (114±16.01) and female students (122 ±3.64) (P<0.0001), suggesting that female students had more positive perceptions. Significant gender differences were likewise found in the mean scores of PoL (28±5.23 vs. 31±5.25, P=0.004), PoCT (24±5.15 vs. 27±5.17, P=0.004), ASP (20± 4.22 vs. 22±4.21, P=0.001), and PoA (27±5.28 vs. 30±5.25, P=0.001). However, no significant difference was observed for SSP (13±3.62 vs. 13±3.64, P=0.841) (Table 4).

The GBSN and PRBSN degree programs are 2 major programs offered at the Shifa College of Nursing. The degrees of these programs are given equal weight professionally and academically. The GBSN is an entry-level program, whereas the PRBSN is offered to nurses with a general nursing diploma with the goal of equalizing them at the bachelor’s level. Class sessions are often combined due to the similarities in the courses. Knowledge is commonly imparted in large groups through the lecture method. The problem-based and integrated approach is rarely used in the college. Generally, females are assumed to be predominant in the field of nursing, which was evident in the PRBSN program. However, more of the GBSN students were male (54%) than female (46%). These demographic data are contradictory to the national guidelines of the Pakistan Nursing Council, which recommends male-to-female ratios of 1:10 for GBSN programs and 1:1 for PRBSN programs [2].

The overall average total score (119 of 200) reflects an educational environment that is more positive than negative. A relatively low average score (13 of 28) was found in the SSP subscale, corresponding to the educational environment being ‘not a nice place.’ The students may experience academic stress that leads to negative perceptions of the social environment in the nursing college. The presence of significant academic stress raises serious concerns about low academic performance [3] and decreased empathy [4] in nursing education, which is a blend of theory and practice.

The educational environment was compared between the programs using the independent t-test. A statistically significant difference was found in the overall mean scores of GBSN and PRBSN students, with more positive perceptions reported by PRBSN students (P<0.0001). Significant variations were also found in PoL (P<0.0001) (‘a more positive perception’), PoCT (P<0.0001) (‘moving in the right direction’), ASP (P< 0.0001) (‘feeling more on the positive side’), and PoA (P<0.0001) (‘more positive attitude’). In contrast, for both groups, the SSP subscale indicated that the social environment in the college was ‘not a nice place’ (P=0.407). The variations in perceptions may have been due to differences in the characteristics of the students of these programs. The PRBSN students had obtained a basic diploma in nursing, whereas the GBSN students were entry-level nursing students. Learning together in a new social environment may also have contributed to the development of negative perceptions [5]. Moreover, students are exposed to different levels and types of courses as they progress in their program. These curriculum changes could also influence the perceptions of students in an undesirable manner [6].

The GBSN and PRBSN programs were further compared according to the mean scores of the DREEM subscale items. Mean scores of <2.00 are suggestive of problem areas in the education environment. The PoL items with a mean score of <2.00 from both programs were ‘the teaching helps to develop my competence,’ ‘the teaching overemphasizes factual learning,’ and ‘I am clear about the learning objectives of the course.’ In contrast, the mean score for ‘teaching is too teacher-centered’ was greater among PRBSN students than among GBSN students, indicating that the teaching was perceived to be more teacher-centered in the GBSN program. Mean scores of <2.00 in PoCT from both programs were found for ‘course teachers ridicule their students’ and ‘course teachers appear to have effective communication skills.’ However, the mean score of the ‘course teachers get angry in teaching sessions’ item was higher among the PRBSN students than among those in the GBSN program. These negative perceptions about teachers could compromise the students’ learning. Therefore, it is suggested that professional development measures should be designed for teachers [7]. Only 1 item in the ASP subscale was perceived negatively by students in both programs: ‘I am confident about passing this year.’ The problem areas in the PoA subscale were ‘atmosphere is relaxed during lectures’ and ‘atmosphere is relaxed during seminars/tutorials.’ The mean score for the GBSN students was lower than that of the PRBSN students for ‘cheating is a problem in this course.’ For another item (‘I find the experience disappointing’), the mean score of the PRBSN students was lower than that of the GBSN students. These issues are linked with stress and strain in students’ desire to learn independently. The items indicating problems in the SSP subscale for students in both programs were ‘I am rarely bored in this course,’ ‘my social life is good,’ ‘I seldom feel lonely,’ and ‘my accommodations are pleasant.’ The mean score of the GBSN students was lower than that of the PRBSN students, suggesting the absence of a support system among GBSN students. Negative social elements may lead to stress and could affect the students’ learning. On the contrary, social support has a moderating effect and is also positively correlated with students’ academic achievement [8].

The educational environment was compared between the genders using the independent t-test. A significant difference was found in the overall mean scores between male and female students (P<0.0001), with more positive perceptions found among female students. Significant differences were found in PoL (P=0.004), PoCT (P=0.004), ASP (P=0.001), and PoA (P=0.001), whereas no significant difference was reported in SSP (P=0.841). These results indicate significantly more positive perceptions among female students in the PoL, PoCT, ASP, and PoA subscales, while similar SSP findings of the educational environment being ‘not a nice place’ were found in both genders. The presence of more positive perceptions among the female students in the current study may have been due to the fact that there are more female nurses in Pakistan [8]. A study reported differences in learning style among male and female nursing students, with female students scoring high at academic self-management [9]. Gender bias could also affect the perception of the educational and professional environment [10]. Most nursing colleges in Pakistan do not offer coeducation. A similar pattern is followed in the basic education system as well. In this scenario, coeducation could be a source of negative perceptions in nursing education programs where it is present [11].

This study was from a single institution, which limits its generalizability. The most important limitation of the study is the use of a questionnaire to assess perceptions of the learning environment, because questionnaires may omit some context-specific components.

In conclusion, the environment was perceived to be more positive by students in the PRBSN program and by female students. Students from both the GBSN and PRBSN programs and of both genders perceived the social environment to be ‘not a nice place.’ Most of the items in the descriptive results were positive, but students also pointed out the need for improvements in the degree to which teaching helped students develop their competence, the extent to which teaching overemphasized factual learning, the ridicule of students by course teachers, effective communication skills, social life, student-centered teaching, and support for students. It is necessary to establish a supportive environment conducive to competence-based learning and to implement faculty development programs that focus on the unsatisfactory components highlighted in the study to bring desirable changes to the educational environment of the college.