A quasi-experimental study of specialized training on the clinical decision-making skills and social problem-solving abilities of nursing students

Abstract

Background: In Asian countries, clinical practice places little emphasis on developing the clinical decision-making skills and social problem-solving abilities of nursing students.

Objective: This study explored whether a 3-months-in-1-unit training program improved nursing students' clinical decision-making skills and social problem-solving abilities compared to the 1-month-in-1-unit rotation program.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted. A 3-months-in-1-unit training program was conducted in the intervention group (n = 77), rountine1-month-in-1-unit rotation was conducted in the control group (n = 73). Clinical decision-making skills and problem-solving abilities were measured using the Chinese version of the Clinical Decision-Making Nursing Scale and the Social Problem-Solving Inventory–Revised.

Results: Nursing students in the intervention group scored higher clinical decision-making skills (t = 7.677, p < 0.05), positive problem orientation (t = 18.359, p < 0.05), negative problem orientation (t = −3.711, p < 0.05), and rational problem-solving (t = 2.312, p < 0.05) than the control group.

Conclusions: The 3-months-in-1-unit specialized training program had a significant positive impact on students’ clinical decision-making skills and social problem-solving abilities.

Keywords:

• nursing students
• nursing training
• clinical decision-making
• problem-solving

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.cn) for English language editing.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by [School of Medicine, Shandong University] under grant [No. LCJY-41], the funding source was not involved in the implementation of the study. .