The Effects of a Dedicated Education Unit on Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Clinical Judgment

J Nurs Educ. 2025 Jan;64(1):35-39. doi: 10.3928/01484834-20240827-01. Epub 2025 Jan 1.

Abstract

Background: Nurse educators and students consider clinical learning experiences to be the best method for learning clinical judgment skills. Research on the relationship between dedicated education units (DEUs) and nursing students' clinical judgment skills is scarce. This study investigated the effects of a DEU on Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students' clinical judgment skills.

Method: A descriptive one-group pretest-posttest study assessed the effect of a DEU on BSN students' clinical judgment skills. Data were collected using the Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric (LCJR).

Results: Students' essential clinical judgment skills (noticing, interpreting, responding, and reflecting) improved significantly. The DEU clinical experience helped students progress in clinical judgment behaviors from the developing stage to the accomplished stage using the LCJR.

Conclusion: The DEU clinical experience positively affected nursing students' clinical judgment. Further research is needed to assess how DEU models affect clinical judgment and transition to professional practice. [J Nurs Educ. 2025;64(1):35-39.].

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Clinical Competence*
  • Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate* / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Judgment*
  • Male
  • Nursing Education Research
  • Students, Nursing* / psychology
  • Students, Nursing* / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult