Abstract:

The use of a student journal in educational settings represents an effective learning technique that enables students to learn while they are writing. Students can use journals for adapting and improving communication, writing about interesting topics, expanding their imagination, sharing information and collaborating in the classroom. Kerka (1996) points out that journal writing is considered to be a critical aspect of knowledge processing and that it helps the learners to “articulate connections between new information and what they already know”.

It is important that students can feel as active members of a learning community, considering motivation and positive attitudes as important aspect of the teaching-learning process (Estebaranz, Ballesteros Pingoranze 2000:2).

The main objective of this study was the creation of a student journal to increase the autonomy and motivation and where they have the opportunity to express previous knowledge and experience.

The specific objectives are:
• Integrating a new tool to make the students using and acquiring information simultaneously expanding and enriching their knowledge with an active participation.
• Increase the learning teaching process through a critical thinking and reflexive writing.

Methodology:
We have created a new student journal for offering learners with various opportunities to discover new ideas and reveal experiences about this nursing practice. The sample was composed of 30 students of Salus Infirmorum Nursing University that was taking place in different hospitals and primary care centers in the province of Cadiz. They have participated in the redaction and writing process of the article, with the supervision of a tutor. A qualitative research strategy was employed.

Results:
In general, students made sufficient use of the new journal. This study demonstrated the importance of a student journal for nurses providing students the opportunity to write about problems and doubts in a high-stress environment and about the practical clinic experience. This would facilitate the resolution of conflicts as well as minimizing errors due to lack of new protocols or changes in services that are not familiar with its procedures.

Keywords:

Nursing students, student journal, educational setting.