Critical thinking disposition, stress of clinical practice and clinical competence of nursing students

Abstract

Critical thinking disposition, stress of clinical practice and clinical competence of nursing students Critical thinking dispositions;Stress of clinical practice;clinical competence;Nursing students; Purpose: This study was done to identify the relationship among Critical Thinking Disposition (CTD), stress of clinical practice and clinical competence in Korean nursing students. Methods: Participants were 407 baccalaureate nursing students (3rd and 4th grades) in Korea. Variables included CTD, stress of clinical practice, clinical competence, and demographic variables. Data was analyzed by frequencies, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation and multiple regression. Results: Clinical competence positively correlated with CTD, but negatively correlated with stress of clinical practice. The regression model explained 25.6% of clinical competence. The significant predictors of clinical competence were intellectual eagerness, intellectual fairness in CTD, conflict with patients, and clinical environment in stress of clinical practice. Conclusions: CTD and stress of clinical practice contribute to nursing student's clinical competence. Therefore, efforts to encourage nursing student's CTD, increase stress management skills, especially in conflict with patients, and build a supportive clinical environment should be made to strengthen clinical competence.