Survey of critical thinking and clinical decision making in nursing student of Kerman University

CONTEXT: The ability to think critically is an essential element in nursing education and more specifically in nurses’ clinical decision making (CDM). AIMS: Critical thinking (CT) and CDM ability as well as their relationship were examined among nursing students of Kerman University. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Study was designed in four towns: Kerman, Bam, Jiroft, and Zarand, settled in Kerman province. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research was a cross-sectional descriptive correlation study. 300 nursing students with different level of education were asked to fill two questionnaires including: (1) California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) and (2) Lauri and Salantera (2002) CDM instrument. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed with SPSS12 and descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Nursing students yielded a low score (mean = 5/40 from 20) of CT and a mild score (mean = 12.8 from 20) of CDM. We found positively correlation between male and CT and CDM score with mean score of the nursing student. Also CDM score in male was more than female but not significant, and Jirofts CDM nursing student was significantly better than other city. CONCLUSIONS: Although students that answers evaluation question in CCTST better can gave better CDM score but there isn’t relationship between CT and CDM of nursing student. The finding showed that mean score of nursing student CT was low. Reason can be either due to the defects of nursing education program, teaching, and learning strategies.