title: Creative thinking in nursing education: preparing for tomorrow's challenges.
abstract: The present health care environment requires creative change, a thought that evokes both excitement and apprehension and offers a clear challenge for the contemporary nurse. In this era of capitation, re-engineering, and redesign in the health care system, nursing programs must prepare nurses who can successfully perform in an environment that demands innovative problem solving. Integrating creative problem solving into this BSN program has (1) provided students with information and experience in the creative process, (2) fostered the personal creative development of nurses, (3) challenged students to use creative thinking in solving nursing problems, and most important, (4) further established and reinforced a new, higher level of nursing practice--a level that appropriately sees the nurse as a creative and innovative member of the health care team.
authors.affiliation: Center for Creative Studies, Gwynedd-Mercy College, Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Le Storti
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hanzlik
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Michiels
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Piano
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D003405:Creativity; D003479:Curriculum / Q000639:trends*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D009729:Nursing / Q000639:trends*; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011340:Problem Solving; D013663:Teaching / Q000639:trends*