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Professional Education: Methodology, Theory and Technologies

Article

Professional competence of lecturers at medical higher education institutions and its role in developing the clinical thinking of future nurses

Victoria Petrushenko*, Valentyna Chorna, Liudmyla Matusevych, Maria Siusko

valentina.chorna65@gmail.com

Retrieved from Vol. 12, No. 1, 2026 Pages 62–71
Received
26.09.2025
Revised
25.03.2026
Accepted
12.05.2026
Published
19.06.2026
Views
70

Abstract

In the context of healthcare reform and the integration of Ukrainian medical education into the international educational space, enhancing the professional competence of lecturers has become particularly important. The training of future nurses requires the implementation of an evidence-based approach, up-to-date clinical guidelines, and modern educational technologies to foster clinical thinking and readiness for professional decision-making. The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the professional competence of lecturers at medical higher education institutions and to determine its role in the development of clinical thinking among future nurses. The study employed a mixed-methods design, combining a systematic review of scientific literature published between 2019 and 2026 with a cross-sectional questionnaire survey involving 31 lecturers from M. I. Pirogov Vinnytsia National Medical University in order to assess their professional competence and their use of innovative educational and clinical approaches. The findings revealed that 96.8% of lecturers confirmed that they possessed profound and systematic knowledge of the disciplines they teach, while no negative responses regarding the level of professional training were recorded. The majority of respondents (93.3%) apply modern clinical protocols and the principles of evidence-based medicine in their teaching practice, and all participants reported that they regularly update the content of academic disciplines in accordance with current scientific evidence. The integration of theoretical knowledge with clinical practice is ensured by 96.7% of lecturers, which contributes to the development of professional competencies and the enhancement of students’ clinical thinking. The use of modern educational technologies was confirmed by 80.6% of respondents, while 96.8% stated that they purposefully develop students’ skills in clinical analysis and informed professional decision-making. All study participants noted that they create a professionally safe, supportive, and ethically comfortable learning environment. The results obtained confirm that a high level of lecturers’ professional competence is a crucial factor in ensuring the quality of medical education and the effective preparation of competitive nursing professionals

Keywords

nursing; evidence-based medicine; educational technologies; digitalisation of learning; academic integrity; practice-oriented training; professional development

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Suggested citation

Petrushenko, V., Chorna, V., Matusevych, L., & Siusko, M. (2026). Professional competence of lecturers at medical higher education institutions and its role in developing the clinical thinking of future nurses. Professional Education: Methodology, Theory and Technologies, 12(1), 62-71. https://doi.org/10.69587/pemtt/1.2026.62