Purpose: To evaluate undergraduate nursing students' ability in clinical competence, critical thinking, and problem
solving following enrollment in a clinical reasoning course. Methods: A clinical reasoning course utilizing a human
patient simulator and scenarios was offered to 22 senior students at a College of Nursing in Seoul. Students' clinical
competence was measured with a checklist of 15 items by analyzing students' performance recorded on video
tapes for eight scenarios. Critical thinking disposition and problem solving were measured by a self-administered
questionnaire before and after the course. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon
signed-rank test. Results: The high scored items of clinical competence were: 'obtain relevant subjective/objective
data', 'interpret vital signs', 'communicate with healthcare providers', and 'utilize standard precautions including
handwashing.' Students' critical thinking and problem solving scores following the course were increased with
statistical significance. Conclusion: A clinical reasoning course utilizing a human patient simulator creates a
realistic clinical environment for nursing students and provides the opportunity to obtain clinical competence,
critical thinking, and problem solving skills