Effects of Project‐Based Learning on Entrepreneurship Skills and Characteristics of Nursing Students

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is pivotal globally, reflecting a nation's potential. Effective education management is crucial for fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in nursing students. This cross‐sectional quasi‐experimental study, using a one‐group pretest‐posttest design, examines the impact of project‐based learning on nursing students' entrepreneurial skills at the Institute of Nursing, Suranaree University of Technology. The sample included 59 fourth‐year nursing students from the third semester of the 2022 academic year. A validated proactive teaching and learning management plan based on project‐based learning was used. Research instruments were entrepreneurship skills and entrepreneurial characteristics assessment forms, with reliability coefficients of 0.71 and 0.83, respectively. Data collection spanned 6 weeks, analyzed with paired t‐tests and ANCOVA to test mean differences after controlling covariates. Findings showed a statistically significant improvement in entrepreneurial skills and characteristics post‐learning (p < 0.05). ANCOVA results, accounting for baseline scores and GPA, confirmed the project‐based learning intervention's significant and robust impact on entrepreneurial skills and characteristics. Active learning through project‐based approaches significantly enhances entrepreneurial skills and entrepreneurial characteristics among nursing students, with potential applicability across diverse disciplines.