Impact of a Dedicated Education Unit Experience on Critical Thinking Development in Nursing Students

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to identify the impact of the dedicated education unit (DEU) on nursing students' critical thinking ability. Background: The DEU is an innovative approach to clinical education, which uses clinical nurses with expert practice consistently in a competency-based experience. Method: Participants (intervention and control groups) completed the Nursing Executive Center's Critical Thinking Diagnostic Assessment tool before and after clinical experience. Results: Participants included 243 students with 179 non-DEU and 64 DEU students. There were significant increases in total pretest and posttest score means (P < .05) for the DEU (intervention) group. A significant change (P < .0001) was seen in critical thinking scores by category for both groups and in the intervention group on pretest and posttest scores, even after controlling for pretest scores (P < .0001). Conclusions: Results support the efficacy of the DEU model in developing critical thinking. Prior DEU studies have focused on implementation and satisfaction with the model.

Fostering Self-Efficacy among Filipino Nursing Students Post-Pandemic: Effectiveness of Dedicated Education Units

“…On this note, it was found in the literature that the Dedicated Education Unit model is a compelling and well-supported alternative to conventional clinical education. The viability of the DEU model as a clinical education option, which is comparable to traditional models, was demonstrated to key stakeholders using evidence from the literature (Bittner et al, 2021;Lapinski & Ciurzynski, 2020;Rusche et al, 2018). Furthermore, it was shown that implementing the DEU model does not jeopardize nursing program outcomes, such as licensing exam pass rates (Flott et al, 2020).…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to nursing education in the Philippines, disrupting traditional clinical training methods and necessitating innovative approaches to support students' self-efficacy-the belief in one's ability to perform specific tasks and achieve desired outcomes (Bittner et al, 2021). In this context, the Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) model emerges as a promising strategy to enhance the self-efficacy of Filipino nursing students' post-pandemic.…”

“…Two crucial determinants of success regarding student outcomes in a nursing education program are achieving a passing score on the national licensure examination and effectively transitioning from being a student to becoming a competent practicing nurse. Multiple studies have examined the superiority of the DEU model compared to the traditional clinical experience model in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities that can impact licensure passing rate, transition to practice, and competencies(Bittner et al, 2021;Flott et al, 2020;Rusche et al, 2018). The DEU model yields favorable outcomes when compared to the traditional clinical experience model.…”

Stressed and Short

“…Additionally, DEU provides a conducive, supportive environment for peer learning, alleviating stress and anxiety (Carey et al, 2018) while significantly increasing critical thinking skills in the learner (Bittner et al, 2021). Lastly, the preceptors in DEUs served as mentors, validators of competencies, and a promoter of critical thinking (Glynn et al, 2017).…”