Journal of Nursing Management

joyce p. (2012) Journal of Nursing Management20, 113–119
Learning as doing: common goals and interests across management and education

Aim The aim of the present study was to evaluate approaches to learning of healthcare professionals in a postgraduate management programme.

Background The study was carried out in a higher education institution.

Methods  An evaluation research study of an inter‐professional healthcare group was carried out with students (insider stakeholders), their lecturers and an external examiner (external stakeholders). All three perspectives are presented here. Data were collected by interview, document analysis and reflection.

Results The present study focused on the domain of learning as doing, as a major theme of the study, drawing variances between nurses and other healthcare professionals. The study highlights the importance of exploring approaches to learning from a pluralistic stance.

Conclusions There is a risk of adopting a narrow approach to education if management programmes are overly influenced by the immediate needs of application of knowledge to practice. Education is influenced by the needs of the students themselves in coming to the programme to acquire knowledge and skills for application to practice.

Implications for nursing management Nurses undertaking management programmes need to be facilitated to cope with the conflicting demands of completing tasks on the job, engaging deeply with learning from these demands and becoming empowered to develop professionally and personally.