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DISSERTATION Senita FINAL PDF.pdf (1.6 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

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Defining Critical Thinking Experiences of Senior Nursing Students

Senita, Julie A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1491305761316241

Abstract Details

2017, PHD, Kent State University, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate and describe nursing students’ and clinical instructors’ understandings of critical thinking and to discover which clinical experiences were significant in allowing students to develop critical thinking abilities. Interpretive qualitative methodology was used to explore students’ and instructors’ perceptions of critical thinking experiences that occurred during clinical education. Data were obtained from 11 student participants and 4 instructor participants using responses to prompts defining critical thinking experiences and follow-up interviews. There were three overarching findings from this study: (a) students and instructors described similar characteristics of clinical experiences that were significant in developing critical thinking including complex situations warranting independent identification, interpretation, and decision making by students; (b) students and instructors described critical thinking as the ability to process an unclear situation, understand the significance of the context, and know what to do next; and (c) students and instructors revealed a disconnect regarding instructor significance and role during clinical experiences. The findings of this study have demonstrated the importance of clinical experiences and preparing for them and debriefing after them for students and the development of their critical thinking. Implications for nursing education include the need to implement certain strategies that maximize critical thinking experiences in the clinical setting, the need for education and training for clinical instructors, and the need for improved discourse between students and instructors regarding clinical experiences.
William Kist (Committee Chair)
Alicia R. Crowe (Committee Member)
Susan Stocker (Committee Member)
293 p.
Education; Nursing
Nursing student; clinical experiences; critical thinking; clinical judgment; student perceptions; qualitative research

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Senita, J. A. (2017). Defining Critical Thinking Experiences of Senior Nursing Students [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1491305761316241

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Senita, Julie. Defining Critical Thinking Experiences of Senior Nursing Students. 2017. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1491305761316241.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Senita, Julie. "Defining Critical Thinking Experiences of Senior Nursing Students." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1491305761316241

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1491305761316241
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© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.