Effect of applying «Ranco and Chads» creative thinking pattern on nursing student's managerial skills

ntroduction: Creative thinking has an important role in applying of scientific and professional knowledge and skills. Thinking Methods develop different skills such as decision making capability. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of applying Ranco and Chad’s Creative Thinking Pattern on nursing students’ managerial skills. In a quasi-experimental study during one semester, effects of “Ranco and Chad’s” Creative Thinking Patterns on nursing management practicum course were assessed (60) nursing student in the eight semester of studying at Islamic Azad University of Najaf Abad on (2010-2011) were selected with non -randomized sampling method. Then, Samples were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups of (30) students. Data gathering tool for managerial skills was based on BARS method and Peter Hani for creative thinking. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) (α=0.85 & α=0.95 respectively). The data were analyzed by SPSS 16, using dependent and paired t–test and correlation tests. In experimental group, the mean scores of managerial skills after intervention increased significantly (P<0.001). The mean scores of managerial skills of the control group increased significantly, too (p=0.004). It means that managerial skill‘s score of two groups have not shown different before (p=0.08) and after intervention (p=0.13). Although the mean score of creativity in groups were not significantly different before the intervention (p=0.405), significant difference in scores of creativity were seen in two groups after applying of “Ranco and Chad’s” Creative Thinking Patterns (P=0.004). There was a significant correlation in mean scores of creative thinking and managerial skills of experimental group (r=0.360, P=0.01) which was not the same in control group. This study showed that creative thinking can enhance the student’s creative thinking but implementing its effects on managerial skills or behaviors required more time. It is recommended that nurse instructors consider teaching this thinking pattern in theoretic and practical curriculum of nursing education.