Effect of Project Planning Course on Nursing Students' Critical Thinking, Lifelong Learning, and Innovativeness

The Project Planning Course is conducted as a two-hour theoretical class per week. This course is being introduced for the first time in the nursing faculty curriculum. The course was conducted by two faculty members, both of whom have knowledge and experience in research and project writing. Since the goal at the end of the course was for students either to carry out a research project or to apply for a patent/utility model, it was planned for 20 students to enroll; however, 19 students chose the course. The course lasted 14 weeks in total. In the first week, topics such as what a project is, its characteristics, and its components were introduced to the students. As part of the course, students were asked to brainstorm solutions for problems they encountered in clinical settings. During the first seven weeks, theoretical lectures were delivered, and during the following five weeks, students worked with their academic advisors on research projects or patent/utility model topics.