Cognitive Load Theory: Implications for Nursing Education and Research
Abstract
This article provides an overview of cognitive load theory (CLT) and explores applications of CLT to health profession and nursing education research, particularly for multimedia and simulation-based applications. The article first reviews the 3 components of cognitive load: intrinsic, extraneous, and germane. It then discusses strategies for manipulating cognitive load variables to enhance instruction. Examples of how CLT variables can be modulated during instruction are provided. Lastly, the article discusses current applications of CLT to health profession and nursing education research and presents future research directions, focusing on the areas of multimedia and simulation-based learning.
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In other settings, students' cognitive load in a teaching session has been associated with learning outcomes.
“In other settings, students’ cognitive load in a teaching session has been associated with learning outcomes [2–5].”
From Teaching a single manual therapy technique at a time reduces cognitive load in physiotherapy students: a randomized controlled educational study (2025) · cites this paper as [2]
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- Authors
- Chen, R., Dore, K., Grierson, L. E. M., Hatala, R., & Norman, G.
- Affiliations
- McMaster University (CA)
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Venue
- Canadian Journal of Nursing Research
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2014-03
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 28-41
- ISSN
- 0844-5621 (ISSN-L)
- 1705-7051
- OpenAlex
- W2564425382
- Cited by
- 8
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 0.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Canadian Journal of Nursing Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Simulation-Based Education in Healthcare
- Keywords
- cognitive load theory, intrinsic cognitive load, extraneous cognitive load, germane cognitive load, nursing education, multimedia learning, simulation-based training, instructional design, health professions education
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