The relationship between critical thinking and job performance among nurses: A descriptive survey study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Nurses are expected to utilize critical thinking for evidence-based patient care.
• Limited research exists on the direct relationship between nurses' critical thinking and job performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between nurses' critical thinking skills and their job performance.
• To determine if critical thinking and its subdomains predict job performance among nurses.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional survey study was conducted with 368 nurses in a Turkish university hospital.
• Data were collected using demographic questionnaires, the Critical Thinking Scale in Clinical Practice for Nurses, and the Nurses' Job Performance Scale.
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple linear regression.

Main Results:

• Nurses achieved average scores in critical thinking and job performance, with a significant positive correlation between them.
• Multiple linear regression indicated that personal, interpersonal, and self-management critical thinking scores positively predicted nurses' job performance.
• Total critical thinking scores also significantly affected job performance.

Conclusions:

• Critical thinking skills are a significant predictor of nurses' job performance.
• Hospital and nursing service managers should implement training to enhance nurses' critical thinking competencies.
• Improving critical thinking is recommended to enhance clinical nurses' overall performance and patient care quality.