Nursing Students' Mindsets Matter: Cultivating a Growth Mindset.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Dweck's growth mindset model explains perceptions of intelligence and academic ability.
• This model has a proven 30-year track record of enhancing student academic success across various disciplines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Dweck's growth mindset model to prelicensure nursing education.
• To explore the implications of growth vs. fixed mindsets on learning within nursing education.
• To provide strategies for cultivating a growth mindset in nursing students.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual analysis of Dweck's growth mindset model.
• Discussion of the dichotomy between fixed and growth mindsets.
• Proposal of practical applications for nursing education.

Main Results:

• The growth mindset model posits that intelligence is malleable, fostering a love of learning.
• A fixed mindset, conversely, views intelligence as static, potentially hindering academic progress.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for educators.

Conclusions:

• The growth mindset model has significant, yet unexplored, potential for nursing education.
• Further research into integrating this model may yield substantial academic benefits for nursing students.
• Cultivating a growth mindset can foster resilience and a lifelong learning orientation in future nurses.