The implications for nursing education in Namibia

This study sought to synthesize evidence from published literature on the various learning styles preferences of undergraduate nursing students and determine the extent they can play in promoting academic success in the nursing education of Namibia. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on electronic databases as a part of the systematic review. Although, kinaesthetic, visual and auditory were found to be the most dominant learning style preferences, most studies (9) indicated that undergraduate nursing students have varied learning styles. Studies investigating associations of certain demographic variables with the learning preferences indicated no significant association. On the other hand, three studies investigating the association between learning styles and the academic performance found a significant association. Three studies concluded that indeed learning styles change over time and with academic levels. The more nurse educators in Namibia are aware of their learning styles and that of their students, the greater the potential for increased academic performance.