Teaching Prelicensure Nursing Students Reasoning in Clinical Experiences: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Clinical experiences are foundational learning components for prelicensure nursing students. Given the complexities of modern nursing practice in an aging America, clinical educators must teach nursing students to reason when engaging in patient care. Contemporary pedagogy to enhance reasoning relies on case studies and simulation. Specific and standardized methods for clinical education are largely absent in the literature. Method: This pilot study measured the clinical reasoning ability of nursing students using the Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT). Participants completed the test before their first clinical day and again after their last clinical day. Pre- and posttest HSRT scores were analyzed by control and intervention groups as well as student levels. Results: Posttest HSRT scores improved significantly in the intervention group at the end of the semester. Conclusion: The PREP framework is a novel approach to clinical education and improved the clinical reasoning of prelicensure nursing students. [ J Nurs Educ . 2023;62(8):467–470.]