The Relationship Between Nursing Students' Perceptions of Individualized Care and Critical Thinking Dispositions

Abstract

Aim: This study was carried out to investigate perceptions of nursing students about individualized care and critical thinking dispositions and to analyze the relationship between them. Material and Method: A descriptive correlational design was used in the study. The population of the study included 219 nursing students with clinical experience in the Health Sciences Faculty of a University in Turkey. The study was conducted with 201 students who consented to participate voluntarily in the study. Data were collected using “The Student Information Form”, “The Individualized Care Scale-A- Nurse Version (ICSA-Nurse)”, and “The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI)” and analyzed by using descriptive, correlational, and comparative statistical methods. Results: The students’ mean score from the total ICSA-Nurse was 4.10 ± 0.63 and the students’ mean score from the total CCTDI was 215.55 ± 26.18. A significant positive relationship was found between the nursing students’ mean total scores from the ICSA-Nurse and the CCTDI (r: 0.288; p=0.001). Conclusion: The perception of the nursing students about individualized care was at a good level, whereas their critical thinking disposition was low. A significant positive relationship was found between the individualized care perceptions and critical thinking dispositions. In conclusion, as the nursing students’ critical thinking dispositions improved, their perceptions of individualized care would increase positively, as well.