IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science (IOSR-JNHS e-ISSN: 2320–1959.p- ISSN: 2320–1940 Volume 6, Issue 2 Ver. VI (Mar. - Apr. 2017), PP 05-11 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/1959-0602060511 www.iosrjournals.org 5 | Page Postgraduate nursing students' acquire skills upon applying problem based learning Sahar Mohamed Soliman 1 , Samia M. Abd El -Mouty, 2 , Nagwa Mahmoud Salem 3 1(Assist. Professor of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt). 2(Lecturer of community health nursing Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt) 3(Lecturer of community health nursing Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt) Abstract : Background: Problem based learning (PBL) is an effective strategy of self- directed learning. It focuses on delivering instruction in which problems are used as the basis of learning. Teaching approaches of higher education is continuously upgrading in Egypt. Although some Egyptian universities have adopted PBL as a learning method for undergraduate students, they did not adopt it as a learning method for postgraduate students. Objective: This study sought to describe the attainable skills of applying problem based learning strategy among postgraduate nursing student. Study design: Cross- sectional study design was used to describe the outcomes of introducing problem- based learning as educational strategy to Community studies and allied health problems' Course. All the 68 postgraduate students nursing who were registered for master during the academic year 2014/ 2015 involved in the study. Four students' evaluation tools were used in this study to evaluate the different acquired skills and their opinions regarding PBL. The evaluation tools included tutor evaluation scale, self –evaluation scale, peer evaluation and students' opinion scale. Results: The study revealed that (50%) of students showed very good level in achieving the groups learning goals by tutor evaluation and obtained adequate information about the problem by self –evaluation. While (54.4%) showed responsibility and commitment by peer evaluation and (88.2%) were strongly agree that this method is effective than lecture. Conclusion: The main conclusion drawn from the current study is that the majority of the postgraduate students were strongly agreed that problem based learning strategy is more effective than traditional learning strategy. Keywords: Problem-based learning – Community health nursing – Postgraduate students' experience I. Introduction Education today is changing from one of factual based to one of inquiry based. This approach of learning is bringing about new ways in which students are involved in the learning process. Teachers knew that students receive knowledge passively and do not learn at their highest potential when they are in a classroom (1, 2) . Learning process will be more effective when instructors take the role of facilitator, coach and mentor to guide students during the problem solving process in state of teach and provide the answer to the problem. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in the student centered classroom gives students the chance to learn best and to discover knowledge in a meaningful and applicable way (3) . Moreover, Smith-Goodwin, and Jeffrey (4) reported that PBL, provide students with learning opportunities for ‘‘how to think’’ rather than ‘‘what to think,’’ and potentially within the framework of sustainability. Nowadays, PBL in nursing field is an instructive strategy that was approved by World Medical Educational and World Health Organization (WHO), as an efficient technique of training community oriented students. Nursing students will be proficient in using theoretical knowledge in their working life if they acquired decision-making abilities, creativity, and sense of responsibility (5) . The Nursing Education Society in Egypt face a challenge in preparing students to execute nursing roles within the context of integrated health care system (6) . Therefore, some nursing programs are using PBL to assist students in developing higher level of skills associated with professional nursing practice (7) . PBL is a student-centered learning approach which strongly influence students behavior and enables them to work cooperatively in small group of 6-10 students for seeking solutions to situations or problems (7,8) PBL approach is depending on providing trigger material to a group of students, who asked to analyze the problem based on acquired knowledge. The trigger is a brief and broad statement of a individual, groups or community problem that used to stimuli clarifying the included concepts. Then students formulate their learning goals to find solution of the problem. These processes allow students to work cooperatively with the facilitator and with colleagues (9,10) . PBL shows student that learning can take place anywhere and at any time. In addition, PBL teaches students to use the information in a meaningful and