A guide to nursing students' written reflections for students and educators.

Experiences from the clinical setting are ideal for building critical thinking skills if reflection is used as a teaching tool. Reflective writing is the purposeful and recurring inspection of thoughts, feelings, and occurrences that coordinate with experiences during practice. Reflecting on clinical experiences develops critical thinking ability, fosters self-understanding, facilitates coping, and leads to improvement in clinical practice (Kennison, 2006).

Narrative thematic analysis of baccalaureate nursing students' reflections: critical thinking in the clinical education context.

This study sought to identify characteristics of clinically situated critical thinking in nursing students' reflections, originally part of a study guided by Richard Paul's model of critical thinking. Nurses are expected to apply critical thinking in all practice situations to improve health outcomes, including patient safety and satisfaction. In a previous study, Paul's model of critical thinking was used to develop questions for reflective writing assignments.

The effect of reflective writing interventions on the critical thinking skills and dispositions of baccalaureate nursing students.

Background: The importance of critical thinking is well-documented by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the National League for Nursing. Reflective writing is often used to increase understanding and analytical ability. The lack of empirical evidence about the effect of reflective writing interventions on critical thinking supports the examination of this concept.

Stress level and stress management skills of admitted baccalaureate nursing students.

The purpose of this study was to review the stress levels and the stress management skills of admitted baccalaureate nursing students at a rural public university. Subjects completed a questionnaire to estimate stress levels, causes of stress, stress management skills, and the use of stress management skills. Stress levels by gender and group were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Pressure ulcers and the home health aide: evaluation of an educational program.

In a 6-month period, it was noted that 3 home care patients had developed pressure ulcers although they had been visited by home health aides providing full hygienic care. In an attempt to improve care, an educational program was developed and provided to the home health aides. After implementation of this program, posttest scores improved.