Abstract
M.Cur.
The purpose of this study is to establish guidelines for the utilization of narratives in
popular literature in nursing education in order to facilitate reflective thinking with
nursing students. The purpose of nursing education is to equip the prospective nursing
practitioner to be able to function independently and effectively in a multicultural,
technological and scientific nursing practice where caring is important. Quality nursing
care demands critical analytical thinking (cognitive skills) and moral values (affective
skills) of the nursing practitioner. This study investigates firstly the "what" of reflective thinking and concludes that reflection accommodates both thinking skills and values that should be facilitated at the prospective nursing practitioner. The facilitation of reflective thinking is demanding as it is a complex cognitive and affective thinking skill.
The research focuses secondly on the way in which the narrative in popular literature
can be applied to facilitate reflective thinking in nursing education. According to the
constructivist learning approach meaningful learning and reflective thinking occur when
coupled to previous knowledge and experience. The nursing student as adult learner
has at his/her disposal certain advance knowledge and previous experience. Narratives
and popular literature form part of the adult learner's advance knowledge and previous
experience. The research design is a philosophical inquiry in which the following research strategies are used namely philosophical analysis as well as qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual strategies. In order to meet the purpose of the research, four goals were set and which were executed in four phases. At first the term reflective thinking was subjected to the process of concept analysis in order to clarify it's specific meaning (connotations and denotations). A theoretical definition of reflective thinking was formulated for the study from the connotations whereas denotations were used as the basis of learning outcomes for the Programme of Euthanasia as an Ethical Issue in Nursing Education (the Programme).