title: Effect of continuing nursing education on nurses' attitude toward and accuracy of nursing diagnosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the effectiveness of a 12-hr educational course on nursing diagnosis, critical thinking, and clinical reasoning.
  
  
  METHODS
  This two-group, quasi-experimental study was conducted with 100 practicing nurses, 50 in each group. Attitude was measured by the Positions on Nursing Diagnosis scale. Accuracy of nursing diagnosis was measured with three valid and reliable case studies, and the Lunney scoring method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After completion, there was a significant difference in the mean attitude between control and experimental groups, and in the accuracy of nursing diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuing education can improve clinical reasoning, as shown by improved attitudes toward and accuracy of nursing diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurse educators should create educational strategies for practicing nurses to improve clinical reasoning skills.
authors.affiliation: Fortis Institutes of Nursing (India), Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis / Q000592:standards*; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Accuracy of diagnosis; attitude to nursing diagnosis; critical thinking