Critical Thinking With Diverse Students: The Effects of a Concurrent RN-BSN Program and Nursing Residency

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Clinical Decision-Making
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• Critical thinking is essential for nurses to ensure patient safety and optimal clinical outcomes.
• The transition from associate degree to baccalaureate preparation requires advanced analytical skills.
• Diverse student populations present unique challenges and opportunities in nursing education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the progression of critical thinking skills among diverse associate degree nursing graduates in a concurrent RN-BSN program and nursing residency.
• To identify potential disparities in critical thinking development within specific demographic subgroups.
• To inform future curriculum development and support strategies for nursing students.

Main Methods:

• A pretest/posttest design was employed to measure critical thinking.
• The study included a diverse cohort of associate degree graduates undertaking a concurrent RN-BSN program and nursing residency.
• Statistical analysis was used to compare pretest and posttest scores, with a focus on subgroup performance.

Main Results:

• Overall improvement in critical thinking scores was observed, but did not reach statistical significance.
• A statistically significant reduction in critical thinking scores was noted for a bilingual subset group, particularly in the areas of Prioritization of Care and Ethical Dilemmas (p = .015).
• Findings suggest potential challenges for bilingual nurses in specific critical thinking domains.

Conclusions:

• While the concurrent RN-BSN program and residency showed some positive impact on critical thinking, further investigation is needed.
• The observed decline in critical thinking scores among bilingual nurses highlights a need for targeted interventions and support.
• Further research should focus on refining critical thinking assessments and understanding their validity across diverse student populations.