Knowledge activation within the critical thinking process in practical nursing-care situations

Abstract

We examined differences between nurses with a practical experience of less than one year and more than five years in situations of activating critical thinking in nursing practice. The results showed that depending on the nursing scene, there were differences between veterans and novices, but overall, the novices also tended to indicate those scenes that veterans could easily indicate. However, it was shown that compared to novices, veterans could make accurate judgments faster and on the whole, had correct awareness. In addition, nursing scenes that neither veterans nor novices were aware of were also clarified. In order to avoid medical accidents, it is necessary to consciously practice nursing daily in each scene.

These findings suggest that in order to increase practical nursing capabilities, it is necessary to allow nurses to obtain basic nursing expertise during their basic nursing education and devise educational methods that allow autonomous and introspective exercises in seminars and clinical practice.