Clinical Environment and Critical Thinking Skills among Graduating Nursing Students of Liceo De Cagayan University

Kate June  F. Acain,; Rubievicky Lyn  C. Acuesta,; Rudson Czar  S. Barcubero,; Rex Januarius  R. Gaabucayan,; Maryliet  T. Kwong,; Remedios  S. Role,; Diana April  R. Medio,

Clinical Environment and Critical Thinking Skills among Graduating Nursing Students of Liceo De Cagayan University

Discipline: Health, Science, Nursing

Abstract:

This descriptive study, which was conducted at Liceo de Cagayan Univeristy delved to determine the clinical environment of the nursing unit that the students are exposed to and the critical thinking skills of the Graduating Nursing Students of Liceo de Cagayan University. It looked into the relationship of the independent variables indicated by the clinical environment characterized by encouragement to ask question, collaboration, exposure to case studies with critical thinking skills such as comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation being the dependent variables. The respondents are the selected graduating nursing students of Liceo de Cagayan during the school year 2006-2007. The main tool used in the data gathering during the survey was a modified questionnaire patterned from the work of Benjamin Bloom, Creative Thinking: Blooms Taxonomy. The gathered data were analyzed and presented through weighted mean. The null hypothesis set at 0.05 level of significance was tested through the Pearson r test of significant relationship. The convenience sampling technique was utilized in the study.

The study found that the student nurses were almost always exposed to the clinical environment of the nursing unit. They have frequently shown their critical thinking skills in all its indicators such as the comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

In conclusion, the study further revealed that a significant relationship exists between critical thinking skills and encouragement to ask questions and exposure to case studies. No significant relationship exists between critical thinking skills and the clinical environment of collaboration.