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Original Article
Critical Thinking Disposition and Clinical Competence in General Hospital Nurses
Jin-Ah Park, Bog-Ja Kim
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2009;39(6):840-850.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.6.840
Published online: December 31, 2009

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: October 7, 2008   • Accepted: November 20, 2009

Copyright © 2009 Korean Society of Nursing Science

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  • 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.
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Table 1
General Characteristics of Subjects (N=560)
jkan-39-840-i001.jpg

*Missing data excluded; Critical thinking education; Multiple response.

Table 2
Critical Thinking Disposition (N=560)
jkan-39-840-i002.jpg
Table 3
Critical Thinking Disposition by General Characteristics (N=560)
jkan-39-840-i003.jpg

*Critical thinking education.

Table 4
Clinical Competence by General Characteristics (N=560)
jkan-39-840-i004.jpg

*Critical thinking education.

Table 5
Correlations between Critical Thinking Disposition and Clinical Competence (N=560)
jkan-39-840-i005.jpg

**p<.001.

Table 6
Predictors of Clinical Competence
jkan-39-840-i006.jpg

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

Figure & Data

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    Citations

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      J Korean Acad Nurs. 2009;39(6):840-850.   Published online December 31, 2009
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    Critical Thinking Disposition and Clinical Competence in General Hospital Nurses
    Critical Thinking Disposition and Clinical Competence in General Hospital Nurses

    General Characteristics of Subjects (N=560)

    *Missing data excluded; Critical thinking education; Multiple response.

    Critical Thinking Disposition (N=560)

    Critical Thinking Disposition by General Characteristics (N=560)

    *Critical thinking education.

    Clinical Competence by General Characteristics (N=560)

    *Critical thinking education.

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

    **p<.001.

    Predictors of Clinical Competence

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

    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).


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