Relation between Virtual Lab Based Learning Method Use and Critical Thinking Skills of Maternity Nursing Students

Ramadan ELbakri Ahmed, Yasmen; Mohamed Ibrahim, Randa; Morsy Yousif, Amira

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2024.434415

Relation between Virtual Lab Based Learning Method Use and Critical Thinking Skills of Maternity Nursing Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Clinical instructor in Maternity & Neonatal Health Nursing,

² Professor of Maternal & Neonatal Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University

³ Assist. Prof. Maternal & Neonatal Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University

10.21608/ejhc.2024.434415

Abstract

Background: A variety of strategies are needed to train a highly competent nursing workforce. Virtual reality (VR) is one of the technologies that have recently gained greater interest in its integration into teaching, especially in university education. However, the use of virtual reality in health professions education is gaining ground and is starting to play an important role in development of the students’ critical thinking skills. This study aimed to: assess relation between Virtual Lab based learning method use and critical thinking skills’ of maternity nursing students. Setting: This study conducted at maternal and neonatal health nursing hall and central computer lab on faculty of nursing, Ain Shams University. Design: A descriptive correlational research design was utilized. Subject: A simple random sample technique was used to recruit 332 maternal and neonatal health nursing students registered in the 3^rd year at academic year 2022-2023. Tools: One tool was used for data collection named “Critical thinking disposition inventory”. Results: Indicates that there is a highly statistical significant improvement in all critical thinking subscale and total scale after exposure for virtual lab experiment (p= 0.001**, 0.002**). In addition to, there is a highly statistical significant positive correlation between number of exposure to virtual lab experiment and critical thinking skills subscales and total scale. Conclusion: The frequent exposure to virtual lab based learning method is reflected upon increasing critical thinking skills of maternity nursing students “as nearly three quarter of maternity nursing students have negative critical thinking skills before exposure to virtual lab based learning that converted to two third have positive critical thinking skills after exposure to virtual lab based learning. Recommendations: Incorporating the virtual lab-based learning method use as a new technology teaching strategy in other nursing and supportive subjects

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