Experiences of student nurses utilizing QR codes in medical-surgical nursing class recitation to enhance engagement

Integration of technology into education has transformed older ways of teaching, and QR code technology seems to be emerging as a tool for increasing student participation. Included in CMO 15 2017 is NCM 112, one of the core subjects that student nurses are most horrified of because it has the highest weight in the BSN curriculum. While existing literature on use of QR code in education, few studies about the use of QR Code in recitation, specifically in Nursing Education. This qualitative study examines the lived experiences of student nurses in a medical-surgical nursing class who used QR codes to record recitation points. Phenomenological qualitative study with semi-structured interviews. Participants were chosen through purposive sampling. Data collected through semi-structured interviews in a face-to-face setup. This study included 25 BS nursing students with the following inclusion criteria: student nurses passed Nursing Care Management 112, voluntarily agreed to participate and share experiences, provided informed consent and must have used QR code technology as a learning tool for at least one semester. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for thematic content using Colaizzi’s method. Findings revealed three produced three major themes: Boosted class participation, Friendly competition, and Technology Challenges. Participants reported increased motivation and high interactive engagement with strengthened collaboration among peers. QR code technology holds pointed potential to boost student participation and collaborative learning in the practice of medical-surgical nursing. Challenges like technological issues and digital adaptability became points of concern. However, careful orientation, implementation, and teacherstudent support with the use of technology are necessary to fulfil its benefits.