The Effects of Clinical Experience and Baccalaureate Education on the Critical Thinking Abilities of Registered Nurses
Contributors: Boston University.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 186
Subjects: Education, Adult and Continuing.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of baccalaureate education and clinical experience on Registered Nurses' ability to think critically. The sample, which included nurses who lived in the Boston and Lowell areas, was one of convenience, since potential subjects were known to the researcher or research assistants.

Demographic data were collected using a tool developed by the researcher. The independent variables were clinical experience and baccalaureate education. These variables were measured by questions pertaining to the type of nursing program attended and the number of years in direct patient care practice. Based on the literature and its frequent use in nursing research, the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal was the tool used to measure the dependent variable, critical thinking.

Six research hypotheses were tested using two-way ANOVAs and planned comparisons. In addition, Pearson product moment correlations were performed to determine the relationships between the independent variables and the dependent variable. The findings indicated clinical experience and baccalaureate education, either alone or together, have a positive effect on the critical thinking abilities of Registered Nurses. Clinical experience has a greater impact on critical thinking abilities of Registered Nurses than does baccalaureate education.

The findings of this study suggest that experienced nurses need to be put into positions where they can have an influence on the professional development of the inexperienced nurse. In addition, nursing educators need to consider the role of critical thinking in the curricula of all three types of programs. All nurses work in environments where the ability to think critically would greatly enhance the quality of nursing care. Besides the basic nursing programs, practicing Registered Nurses should have access to continuing education programs where they not only expand their knowledge-base, but have the opportunity to improve their abilities to think critically. Finally, more research is needed regarding the critical thinking abilities of Registered Nurses. Based on the review of the literature, this group has not been studied sufficiently.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-12, Section: A, page: 4637.

Thesis (ED.D.)--BOSTON UNIVERSITY, 1996.

School code: 0017.