The Influence of Brief Papers on Clinical Decision-Making Skills among College Nursing Students in Tanzania

Abstract Clinical decision-making and critical thinking represent pivotal competencies essential for the progression of undergraduate nursing students. Within nursing education, clinical faculty, particularly those engaged in direct patient care instruction, play a vital role in fostering the cultivation of these skills. This study aimed identify the influence of brief paper on clinical decision making among college nursing students in Tanzania. While conventional assessment methods encompass lengthy case studies, concept mapping, and participation in discussion boards, the introduction of clinical short paper assignments offers a novel avenue to challenge students in refining their critical thinking and clinical decision-making proficiencies. Although no statistically significant variance was discerned in the perceived level of clinical decision-making pre- and post-implementation of short written assignments, there was an observable elevation in the overall mean score of clinical decision-making abilities subsequent to the integration of clinical short papers.