Digital Technology-Based Learning to Facilitate Critical Thinking by Student Nurses in Clinical Practice

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Technology
• Digital Learning

Background:

• Critical thinking is vital for high-quality patient care in nursing.
• Challenges in nursing education include the theory-practice gap and workload pressures.
• Technological approaches are increasingly needed to foster critical thinking skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore perceptions of clinical facilitators and student nurses on using digital technology to enhance critical thinking.
• To investigate the potential of digital tools in nursing education.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study design.
• Purposive sampling of 11 female and 2 male clinical facilitators, and 8 female and 4 male student nurses (total 25 participants).
• Data collection through semi-structured individual interviews.

Main Results:

• Participants perceived digital technology as a promising strategy for developing critical thinking skills in student nurses.
• The study identified digital technology as a valuable tool for enhancing nursing education.

Conclusions:

• Digital technology offers accessible learning platforms, overcoming time and location barriers.
• Implementing digital technology can facilitate the development of critical thinking and competencies in student nurses.
• This transition supports a more effective and modern approach to nursing education.