Factors Affecting Critical Thinking Dispositions of Nursing Students

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the factors that affect the critical thinking dispositions of undergraduate nursing students Methods: The population of the study consisted of all students (n=213) who received nursing undergraduate education in 2018-2019 academic year at the School of Health of a state university. The study was conducted with 190 students who agreed to participate in the study. The data were collected by using the "Descriptive Information Form" for the students and the "California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI)". Frequency, percentage calculation, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to evaluate the data. Results: The students' critical thinking dispositions were found to be moderate (244.28 +/- 25.75). When the subscale scores of CCTDI were examined; It was found that students had a moderate tendency in systematicity, open-mindedness, inquisitiveness and analiticity sub-dimensions, and low level of critical thinking in search for truth-seeking and self-confidence sub-dimensions. When the students' descriptive characteristics and the critical thinking disposition scale total scores were compared; It was found that there was a significant difference between the variables of classroom, place of residence before the university, status of reading books, following scientific studies in nursing, participating in social activities, school achievement status, place of residence before the university and total critical thinking tendency (P <.05). There was no significant difference between gender, age, grade point average, pre-university school life variables of scientific studies, participation in projects and critical thinking disposition total scores (P >.05). Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was found that nursing students' critical thinking disposition was moderate.