Our objectives were as follows: 1. Framework and Curriculum creation: Facilitated collaboration among colleges to co-create a framework, training course, and curriculum on clinical reasoning. Closed the gap between experienced nurses/midwives' understanding of clinical reasoning and that of students. Addressed clinical reasoning in both nursing and midwifery professions. 2. Impact areas: Learners: Students, lecturers, and healthcare professionals gained knowledge and skills in clinical reasoning. Staff: Project staff developed competencies in clinical reasoning, cooperation, planning, and risk management. Partner Organizations: Lifelong learning programs on clinical reasoning benefited students, lecturers, and care professionals. 3. Champion course: Beyond basic education, we created a ripple effect by offering a champion course. Ambassadors raised awareness of clinical reasoning in healthcare organizations. This approach improved clinical reasoning skills and bridged the gap between students and professionals. 4. Systemic impact: The project’s influence extended beyond participating UAS to broader networks. By training key individuals, we initiated positive change in education and healthcare.
Clinical reasoning, the ongoing process through which nurses and midwives rapidly and accurately assess care situations, is critical for patient outcomes. These frontline caregivers monitor patients for clinical deterioration, understand care processes, and perform countless tasks to ensure high-quality care. Effective clinical reasoning skills are essential, as they enable timely interventions and prevent "failure-to-rescue" scenarios. Despite efforts to teach clinical reasoning, newly graduated nurses often struggle with differentiating between acute and less urgent clinical problems. They also face challenges in time-sensitive situations with complex data. In the US and Australia, research has highlighted poor clinical reasoning and critical thinking skills among new nurses. Our focus was on improving clinical reasoning skills. Effective clinical reasoning positively impacts patient outcomes. By bridging the gap between experienced nurses and students, adapting frameworks to the EU context, and sharing teaching methods, we aimed to enhance healthcare quality and safety. By understanding how clinical reasoning is taught and practiced across the EU, we were able to elevate the quality of nursing and midwifery education.