Presence of the Reflective and Critical Thinking Capacity in Nursing Curricula in Iberian America.

Objectives: The objective was to identify the presence of the capacity for reflexive-critical thinking or similar, in Nursing Curricula in Iberian America.

Methods: The article gathers the results of one of the objectives of the macro-project developed by the Iberian American Network on Nursing Education Research, titled Strategies to develop reflective and critical thinking in nursing students: Iberian America situation. To achieve this, a descriptive and exploratory research was conducted with qualitative approach. An instrument created for this project was used, along with some guiding questions to focus the information.

Results: Eight countries participated (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela), which contributed information from 189 curricular plans. The R&CT was found in the majority of the curricula, although with diverse denominations. The principal learning strategies used were problem-based learning, group dynamics, reflective reading, clinical practice, and simulation laboratories. The evaluation methods used are the knowledge test, case analysis, and practical exam.

Conclusions: Significant stress exists in the discourse and curricular organization. Incongruences were found and a clear inclination toward the formation of professionals with broad technical skills under a traditional, memory, banking and knowledge accumulation education.