Inquiry-based learning and clinical reasoning scaffolds: An action research project to support undergraduate students' learning to 'think like a nurse'

A period of re-negotiation is expected when introducing a new teaching and learning approach in a Bachelor of Nursing course. This study, underpinned by a social constructivist framework, used action research to uncover the interactions, challenges and outcomes when implementing an inquiry-based learning approach to support the development of students’ clinical reasoning and capability to think like a nurse. Data collection involved non-participant observation of 32 tutorial groups (600 first-year students and 8 teachers) over the first two weeks of semester. Analysis was informed by Charmaz’s social constructivist approach. The findings revealed three interconnected constructs: Opting in and out (students), Driving and reframing (teachers) and Creating and realising new understandings (both students and teachers). Introducing a new approach necessitated conscious planning and deliberate behaviour change on behalf of the teacher and student. Use of an inquiry-based learning approach which embedded clinical reasoning, investigative prompts and learning scaffolds in the form of case exemplars assisted students to ‘think like a nurse’