Using mental imagery to practice a specific psychomotor skill

This study explored the usefulness of mental imagery as a technique for practicing psychomotor nursing skills. Using the specific skill of one-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ORCPR) and a control group, several posttest questions addressed mental imagery and the possible improvement of performance proficiency with its use. The findings suggested that subjects were able to clearly perceive a specific psychomotor skill using mental imagery (p = .05). The subjects in this study indicated that mental imagery was a useful and interesting learning technique. No significant differences were noted in the performance of the study and control groups.