Evaluation of a clinical teaching method involving stories

A clinical teaching method involving stories was evaluated in this study. A total of 25 ASN and BSN students participated in Phase I evaluation and another 16 ASN students were included in Phase II. Each student created a story about an obstetric or a pediatric topic. The story was then read by the story writer to peers and faculty. The faculty member facilitated dialogues and reflections on the meanings of the story. In Phase I, students offered written responses about the effectiveness of the story teaching. In Phase II, a 5-item questionnaire measured pre- and post-test scores of perceived improvement in five knowledge areas. Results showed that students perceived the story teaching positively because it brought learning to a personal level and facilitated in-depth discussion and critical thinking. Perceived knowledge improvement was evident after the story teaching in nursing interventions, the physiological and psychosocial alterations, legal/ethical/cultural issues, and community resources. In conclusion, this teaching method was acceptable to students and may have contributed to positive learning outcomes.