Critical Thinking Disposition and Clinical Competence in General Hospital Nurses

Jin-Ah Park; Bog-Ja Kim

doi:10.4040/jkan.2009.39.6.840

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Park and Kim: Critical Thinking Disposition and Clinical Competence in General Hospital Nurses

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2009; 39(6): 840-850.

Published online: 31 December 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.6.840

Critical Thinking Disposition and Clinical Competence in General Hospital Nurses

Jin-Ah Park¹, Bog-Ja Kim²

¹Head Nurse, Ewha Womans University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

²Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Nursing, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Kim, Bog-Ja. Department of Clinical Nursing, University of Ulsan, 388-1 Pungnap-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea. Tel: 82-2-3010-5331, Fax: 82-2-3010-5332, bjkim@amc.seoul.kr

Received 7 October 2008 Accepted 20 November 2009

Abstract

Purpose

This study was done to investigate the relationship between critical thinking disposition and clinical competence among nurses in general hospitals.

Methods

This study was a descriptive-correlational study with a convenience sample of 560 nurses from 5 general hospitals. The data were collected by self-administered questionnaires. Critical thinking disposition was measured using the Critical Thinking Disposition Scale for Nursing Students. Clinical competence was measured using the Standardized Nurse Performance Appraisal Tool.

Results

The mean score for critical thinking disposition and clinical competence was 3.37 and 4.10 respectively on a 5 point scale. A statistically significant correlation was found between critical thinking disposition and clinical competence. A regression model explained 72.8% of clinical competence. Prudence is the most significant predictor of clinical competence (R²=.728).

Conclusion

Study findings suggest that nurses with a higher level of critical thinking disposition would have a higher level of clinical competence. Furthermore, prudence might be the most important predictor of clinical competence. In order to strengthen clinical competence in nurses, the development and enhancement of critical thinking should be emphasized at the college level and nurses should be encouraged to make a clinical decision with greater prudence.

Keywords: Thinking, Clinical competence, Nurses

Figures and Tables

Table 1

General Characteristics of Subjects (N=560)

^*Missing data excluded; ^†Critical thinking education; ^‡Multiple response.

Table 2

Critical Thinking Disposition (N=560)

Table 3

Critical Thinking Disposition by General Characteristics (N=560)

^*Critical thinking education.

Table 4

Clinical Competence by General Characteristics (N=560)

^*Critical thinking education.

Table 5

Correlations between Critical Thinking Disposition and Clinical Competence (N=560)

^**p<.001.

Table 6

Predictors of Clinical Competence

^**p<.001; ^†Dummy coded (0=Medical, 1=OB&GY).

Notes

This article is based on a part of the first author's masters' thesis from University of Ulsan.

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