Evaluation Tools and Influencing Factors of Clinical Reasoning for Nursing Students

Abstract

The cultivation of clinical reasoning ability in nursing students is a hot topic of research among nursing educators worldwide. Only by fully understanding the concept of clinical reasoning, accurately assessing its level, and familiarizing themselves with its influencing factors, can nursing educators develop appropriate measures to cultivate and enhance the clinical reasoning ability of nursing students. Through literature review, this article found that there is no unified and clear concept of clinical reasoning internationally, but experts unanimously agree that the three basic conditions that should be met for conducting clinical reasoning are discipline-specific knowledge, multiple types of thinking, and reasoning skills. There are two main types of evaluation tools for nursing students' clinical reasoning ability: self-evaluation tools and peer evaluation tools. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. The clinical reasoning ability of nursing students is not only influenced by their own factors such as professional knowledge, experience, and thinking patterns, but also by external factors such as teaching methods and teaching environment.