Purpose: This study analyzed domestic studies on blended learning among nursing students to identify research trends and future directions.
Methods: This scoping review was conducted following the process suggested by Arksey and O’Malley: 1) identifying the research questions; 2) searching for relevant studies; 3) study selection; 4) charting the data; 5) collating, summarizing, and reporting the results; and 6) optional consultation. Relevant studies were searched using the keywords “blended learning” and “nursing” in the domestic databases RISS, KISS, and DBpia. The selection and exclusion criteria were applied to 203 articles, and 34 were finally selected.
Results: The final 34 studies included 30 quantitative and four qualitative studies. Most of the studies were experimental studies. In undergraduate nursing education, blended learning was utilized more in the classroom than in the lab or clinical setting. Furthermore, it was mainly applied by combining online and offline approaches. It improved learning satisfaction, critical thinking, clinical performance, and self-directed learning ability.
Conclusion: Research on blended learning in nursing education has increased over time. Blended learning positively affects learning satisfaction and learning ability in nursing students; thus, it is expected that this could be effectively utilized in both the classroom and lab or in clinical teaching for nursing students. Therefore, future studies using various research methods should be expanded, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses are recommended.