J Korean Acad Soc Nurs Educ.  2016 Aug;22(3):304-315. 10.5977/jkasne.2016.22.2.304.

Impacts of Critical Thinking Disposition and Nursing Work Environment on Nurses' Clinical Decision Making Abilities

• Oh I
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2351001
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5977/jkasne.2016.22.2.304

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships of critical thinking disposition (CT), nursing work environment (NWE), and clinical decision making ability among nurses.
METHODS
A cross-sectional, descriptive study design was conducted on 192 nurses who had worked for more than six months in five general hospitals. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data, which included demographics, CT, NWE, and clinical decision making ability.
RESULTS
The mean score of CT was 3.5. The highest score was on the objectivity of CT and the lowest on systematicity. The mean score of NWE was 2.3. The highest score was on the collegial nurse-physician relations of NWE and the lowest on the staffing and resource adequacy. The mean score of clinical decision making ability was 3.3. In hierarchical multiple regression, affecting factors on clinical decision making ability were CT and NWE.
CONCLUSION
The findings showed that clinical decision making ability is associated with CT and NWE. To improve clinical decision making ability, it is important to improve CT. In addition, it should be considered to improve NWE where the nurses can make a decision with their job through critical thinking.

Keyword

Nurses; Critical thinking disposition; Work environment; Clinical decision-making

MeSH Terms

Clinical Decision-Making*
Demography
Hospitals, General
Nursing*
Physician-Nurse Relations
Thinking*