Factors associated with critical thinking among nurses

Abstract

The ability to think critically is increasingly hypothesized to play an important role in a nurse's ability to function competently in complex health care settings. This cross-sectional exploratory survey used secondary data (Gendrop, 1989) to assess the critical thinking ability of a convenience sample of 160 nurses from two urban hospitals. Four variables hypothesized to be associated with critical thinking ability were explored: age, level of education, years of nursing experience, and area of expertise in nursing. Critical thinking was assessed using the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Tool (WGCTA). Study findings suggest that age and years of experience were negatively correlated with critical thinking ability. However, the level of education was positively related to critical thinking. Future needs for research were identified and implications for nursing education and practice were provided.