Critical thinking skills of RNs: Exploring demographic determinants
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2020
Abstract
Previous studies of nurses' critical thinking skills that included demographic characteristics as determinants have been inconclusive. This study explored demographic determinants of critical thinking skills among nurses from public hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia. Method: This cross-sectional study included 549 nurses recruited via multistage cluster sampling. Nurses completed the demographic questionnaire and Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT). Results: The majority of respondents failed to demonstrate critical thinking skills with a mean overall HSRT score of 13.8 (SD = 3.4). Educational qualifications (p = .003) and clinical specialties (p = .022) were significantly related to nurses' critical thinking skills. Years of clinical experience, age, and job ranking were not significant. Conclusion: The findings indicate a need to address the present curriculum in nursing education and to reinforce critical thinking skills in the nursing workforce. Future research on how nurses in Malaysia acquire critical thinking skills is needed.
Keywords
Clinical decision making, Simulations, Students
Divisions
fac_med
Funders
Ministry of Education [KPM(B) 690228045258],Universiti Malaya [PG057-2014A]
Publication Title
Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing
Volume
51
Issue
3
Publisher
Slack Inc
Publisher Location
6900 GROVE RD, THOROFARE, NJ 08086 USA