Reflective Practice as an Effective Strategy for Promoting Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills in Nursing Education

Abstract

Reflective practice continues to be a key strategy for promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills in nursing education globally. This study explored the experiences of nursing students on the use of reflective practice to advance critical thinking and problem solving at the University of Namibia, Rundu Campus. An exploratory, descriptive qualitative design was employed to purposively recruit 10 final year undergraduate nursing students. The data, which were collected through the use of individual semi-structured interviews, were analyzed using thematic analysis. The following themes emerged from the study: reflection in action, and reflection on action. The results of this study highlight the significance of reflection in nursing education, as well as the importance of student engagement and institutional support in implementing reflective practice within the nursing school.