The correlation of metacognitive ability, self‐directed learning ability and critical thinking in nursing students: A cross‐sectional study

AIM: To understand the status quo of metacognitive ability (MA), Self‐directed learning (SDL) ability and critical thinking (CT) ability of five‐year higher vocational nursing students as well as the correlation among them. BACKGROUND: MA, SDL ability and CT are the core abilities that nursing students must have and they are the important factors to improve students’ nursing service quality and lifelong learning ability. DESIGN: A quantitative and cross‐sectional descriptive study. METHOD: The survey collected data from 3,047 five‐year vocational nursing students with questionnaires April–May in 2020. RESULTS: The total score of MA was 81.18 (SD 13.51), SDL ability score was 220.28 (SD 35.09), and CT ability score was 271.96 (SD 26.08). The positive correlations were found between those three (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The overall metacognitive ability of nursing students was not high, SDL ability and CT ability were both at a medium level. Health educators need pay attention to cultivation and development of the core competencies.