MI AIms: Motivational Interviewing and Appreciative Inquiry Manifesting Success

Background and Issues:  The goal- an exploration of outcomes after combining Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Appreciative Inquiry (AI) to support student learning, self confidence, and self efficacy within a rural and distance learning capstone clinical nursing course.    

Description: Low self-confidence and low self-efficacy affects accurate self-appraisal and the subsequent behaviors related to competent and effective nursing performance in any new situation.  MI AIms offered a supportive framework to identify behaviors of nursing, prioritize behaviors to strengthen, and reflect on processes for increasing confidence.  Competencies for the PHN suggest MI as essential content and AI has long been recognized as a strengths-based framework to address disparities and social injustice.

Lessons Learned:  The process of AI encouraged students to create a vision of a successful nurse and positively explore the upcoming nursing experience.  Students identified specific behaviors associated with developing competence which were prioritized using MI and behavioral theory. Reflection activities and a live practice session supported the learning and application of AI and MI skills.  Faculty noted empowerment, advocacy, and self-efficacy were highlighted priorities and MI AIms skills were also incorporated in patient care. 

Recommendations:  Health care disparities, access to care issues, and the move toward chronic care self-management and community based care suggests PHNs competent in MI and strengths-based coaching can creatively address these issues.  MI AIms is an emergent design with potential application in nursing education, with population based practice issues, and in areas where personal and contextual shifts need to be made.