Active Learning Prioritization Exercise for Junior Nursing Students

In response to the need to promote higher-level critical thinking and evidence-based practice education, a prioritization exercise was created for a class of Junior-level nursing students. The exercise will reinforce content, concepts, & implications for nursing regarding fluids, electrolytes, and atrial-based gas (ABGs) results in patients. Active learning blended with traditional learning allows the students to learn necessary content while utilizing critical thinking skills to increase the retention of information. During the exercise, students will be challenged to assess the fluid and electrolyte status of patients and prioritize which patients are the sickest. The exercise will also reinforce content involving labs and medications needed to treat alterations in fluids & electrolytes.