Evaluation of Clinical Reasoning Skills Gained by Students through Baccalaureate Nursing Programs: An International Study

There is growing evidence that clinical reasoning is essential for safe and high-quality nursing care. However, to the date, there are no systematic ways implemented in nursing curricula to teach or evaluate gains of clinical reasoning among nursing students. This international study aims to evaluate and describe the gain of clinical reasoning among nursing students as a result of their academic progression in nursing programs. Students from Oman, United States, India, and Jordan will be recruited because the four countries have similar nursing curricula. A clinical reasoning test has been constructed and validated for this study. A cross-sectional administration of the test will be done targeting three different levels of students at each program. The difference between means of scores among the three levels will be analyzed to find out if students gain clinical reasoning as a result of progressing from one level to another. Recommendations for nursing curricular modifications will be made.