Relationship between the self-learning ability and critical thinking ability of nurses in district hospitals in Nanjing suburban areas

Abstract

Objective To survey the current status of the self-learning ability and critical thinking ability of nurses in district hospitals in suburban areas and explore the relationship between them to supply grounds for nurse training programs. Methods By convenient sampling from April to June 2014, a total of 404 nurses from 4 district hospitals in suburban areas in Nanjing were investigated with the nurse self-learning ability rating scale and critical thinking disposition inventory in Chinese version (CTDI-CV). Results The total score of suburban nurse self-leaning ability was (122.57±18.00) while that of critical thinking ability was (276.03±24.43). The single factor analysis presented that nurses with different occupational title had different level of critical thinking with statistical significance (F=6.788, P<0.05). The influencing factors of nurse self-leaning ability and critical thinking ability included whether they involved research, whether they were nursing mainstay or manager. The self-leaning ability was positively correlated with the critical thinking ability by Pearson analysis (r=0.378, P<0.01). Conclusions The self-leaning ability and critical thinking ability of nurses in the four hospitals in Nanjing are in the moderate level, and they have a positive interacted relationship. According to the influencing factors, nursing managers should take appropriate and effective measures to develop and improve nurses, both abilities. Key words: Nurse; Self-learning ability; Critical thinking ability; Relativity; District hospital in suburban area