The relationship between problem solving and learning strategy in a registered nursing education program

Abstract

Problem solving abilities are fundamental for the practice of nursing, but no assessment of these abilities is available prior to admission to a nursing education program. Recognizing that the cognitive activities in which individuals engage when faced with academic or technical learning tasks are of crucial importance to problem solving abilities, an investigation to determine whether learning strategies can predict problem solving ability was conducted. Learning strategies as identified by the Inventory of Learning Processes were correlated with indicators of academic and clinical success in a population of 119 students in an associate degree nursing education program in South Texas. Analysis by bivariate correlation and stepwise multiple regression found that two of the four scales of the Inventory of Learning Processes were more predictive (p <.05) of problem solving ability than traditional measures (mathematic and reading ability). The results of this study provide nursing educators with a tool to estimate a student's potential problem solving ability as well as adding to the data base on how problem solving abilities may be affected by learning strategies.