Fostering nursing students’ clinical reasoning: a QSEN-based teaching strategy

The aim of this pilot study was to describe the development of an educational activity that combined an unfolding case study and interactive game elements, than evaluate the activity's effectiveness at improving nursing students' clinical reasoning. The educational activity was based on the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) framework. A single-group pre- and post-test design was used to carry out this study. The Italian version of the Nurse Clinical Reasoning Scale (NCRS) was submitted to nursing students. A paired sample t-test was used to evaluate possible differences in the students' responses before and after the educational activity. Results of the t-test indicated that the NCRS scores were significantly higher in post-intervention (t = -5.48(9); p < 0.001). The QSEN-based educational activity could be used in nursing education to foster students’ clinical reasoning. The slide presentation used to introduce the unfolding case study may provide nurse educators with a valid practical instrument for integrating QSEN competencies in nursing education programs.