Essential Competencies of Preceptors: A Focus on Working with APRN Students

Module 4: Facilitating Critical Thinking and Clinical Decision-Making

Summary

Critical thinking is an expected competency of the graduate student. While there are many definitions and behaviors associated with this competency, it is important that the nursing faculty, preceptor, and nursing student understand how critical thinking is fostered and evaluated.

Building upon the learning assessment content from Module 2, the preceptor needs to assess the student's current knowledge base about specific diseases and procedures prior to evaluating critical thinking. Implementing structured learning experiences, including the student in clinical interventions, questioning, and providing specific debriefing (feedback), the nursing student's critical thinking can be facilitated.

REFERENCES

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