Introduction: Regarding the importance of nursing education promotion, there is a need to use methods that have the ability to create knowledge and skills in students. This study aimed to assess the effect of education (problem base learning, cooperative training and routine approach to clinical education) on critical care nursing students' clinical learning, anxiety and satisfaction.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Amir Al Moemenin hospital in Arak, Iran, during 2015-2017. The subjects were 60 nursing students who were selected via Fixed blocked randomization method and randomly were allocated into three groups (60 subjects). After the administration of pretest, students in control group were educated using common method; in one of the experimental groups, the cooperative learning and for other experimental group, problem- based learning was used for 9 days. Then, the three groups completed the questionnaires at the end of education again. Finally, data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 (analysis of variance, Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon, Fisher).
Results: The mean total score of the learning was significantly difference among three groups after the intervention. after intervention, the mean of learning was in problem based solving and collaborative learning higher than usual method. There was no significant difference between means of satisfaction and anxiety in three teaching methods.
 Conclusion: It seems that two methods of problem-based learning and cooperative training enhanced clinical skills of students. Therefore, it is recommended to use these two methods to enhance students’ clinical learning.