Effect of reflective learning on the ability of critical thinking of nursing students in clinical practice

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of reflective learning on the ability of critical thinking of nursing students in clinical practice. Methods 102 students were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group with 51 students in each group. The control group took routine clinical practice.The experimental group took routine clinical practice and reflective learning. Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory-Chinese Version (CTDI-CV)was used to test nursing students' ability of critical thinking before and after the clinical practice. Results The average CTDI-CV scores of the control group and the experimental group were ( 286.26±28.15 )and (285.79±30.52)respectively before the clinical practice, there was no significant difference between them. After the clinical practice, the average CTDI-CV scores of the control group and the experimental group were (289.34±32.53)and (305.63±22.46)respectively, the latter was significantly higher than the former. Conclusions Reflective learning can improve nursing students' ability of critical thinking, it can be used for reference by clinical educator. Key words: Nursing student; Reflective learning; Reflection paper; Critical thinking