The effect of an innovative clinical teaching method on nursing students' knowledge and critical thinking skills

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the effect of an experimental clinical teaching method on nursing students' knowledge and critical thinking skills during clinical rotations in psychiatric nursing. Ausubel's Assimilation Theory of Learning provided the theoretical framework for this research. The subjects (N=83) were from the baccalaureate nursing graduating classes of 1992 and 1993 of a medium-sized state university in the mid-atlantic region of the United States. The experimental clinical teaching method used computer-assisted instruction (CAI) throughout and a collaboration model (student-faculty-service) during initial clinical experiences. Knowledge was measured by the score for the psychiatric nursing component of the Mosby Assess Test and two parts of the National League for Nursing's (NLN) Psychiatric Exam (theory and total scores). Critical thinking was measured by two parts of the NLN's Psychiatric Nursing Exam (the score for assess, analyze, and evaluate as one measure and planning and implementation for the other measure). The comparison group scored significantly higher than the control group on assessing, analyzing, and evaluating (t=2.15; p<.03), as well as planning and implementation (t=2.33; p<.02), measures for critical thinking skills. However, there was no significant difference between the study groups with respect to knowledge. The findings support the appropriateness of Ausubel's Assimilation Theory with this clinical teaching method. Discussion relevant to the application of the study findings to nursing education and future research is presented.