The role of critical thinking in a certificate program: the nursing assistant
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The role of critical thinking in a certificate program: the nursing assistant
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Critical thinking skills make the difference between life and death for hospitalized patients;
nursing staff must recognize small and subtle changes in a patient’s condition and act quickly. The aging population of the U.S. and the attrition of nursing staff have increased the need for nurses and nursing assistants. Community college Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) programs can be a gateway course for multiple health careers, especially nursing. These programs are short two- to three-month programs that culminate in a certificate and employment. The challenge finding ways to add meaningful critical thinking approaches to the curriculum of short skills-based courses. This mixed methods study examined the critical thinking skills of nursing assistants and identified ways to impact students’ ability to make informed decisions. Quantitative questions examined students’ performances on a critical thinking test compared with national results and the effect of critical thinking lessons prior to the test on those results and the statewide credentialing test. Qualitative questions examined students’ perceptions of the test and the classroom exercises on their confidence and understanding of critical thinking. Critical thinking classroom interventions focused on prioritizing care, identifying potential problems, and making decisions about appropriate care, including when to alert the nurse to changes in the patients’ condition. Quantitative results showed a slight improvement in the students’ scores on the critical thinking test and state credentialing exam; however, these were not statistically significant. Qualitative results indicated students learned from the lessons and could apply them to their clinical and classroom experiences. Recommendations from this study include (1) Critical thinking exercises should be embedded into CNA programs; (2) Faculty must model critical thinking and actively demonstrate critical thinking decision making; (3) Faculty should mentor students to encourage reflective practice and ensure student awareness and assessment of their own thinking process; (4) Community colleges should establish First Year Seminar courses as a means to embed critical thinking components into CNA programs. |
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Author (aut): Pagenkopf, Elizabeth
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Abridger (abr): Chambers, Devin Henry
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108 pages
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Thesis (Ed.D. in Community College Leadership) -- Ferris State University, Community College Leadership Program, 2021.
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English
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The role of critical thinking in a certificate program: the nursing assistant
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3019559
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