J Nurs Educ
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
The effect of an innovative clinical teaching method on nursing students' knowledge and critical thinking skills.
The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the effect of an experimental clinical teaching method on nursing students' knowledge and critical thinking skills during clinical rotations in psychiatric nursing. Ausubel's Assimilation Theory of Learning provided the theoretical framework for this research. The subjects (N = 83) were from the baccalaureate nursing graduating classes of 1992 and 1993 of a medium-sized state university in the mid-atlantic region of the United States. ⋯ However, there was no significant difference between the study groups with respect to knowledge. The findings support the appropriateness of Ausubel's Assimilation Theory with this clinical teaching method. Discussion relevant to the application of the study findings to nursing education and future research is presented.