The Mediating Effect of Caring-Character on the Relationship between Critical Thinking Disposition and Clinical Competence in Nursing Students

Objectives This study was done to identify the mediating effect of caring-character on the relationship between critical thinking disposition and clinical competence in nursing students. Methods The subjects of the study were 192, 3rd and 4rd grade nursing students from three universities located in cities C and D who had at least one semester of clinical practice experience. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using correlation analysis, hierarchical regression analysis, and Sobel test in the SPSS 20.0 program. Results The results of the study showed a positive correlation between critical thinking disposition and caring-character (r=.75, p<.001). and a positive correlation between caring-character and clinical competence were confirmed (r=.76, p<.001). The critical thinking disposition of nursing students significantly affected clinical competence (β=.75, p<.001), and the explanatory power was 57.2%. When caring-character was added, the effect of critical thinking disposition on clinical competence decreased (β=.75→.45), showing that caring-character had a partial mediating effect on the effect of critical thinking disposition on clinical competence (Z=6.57, p<.001). Conclusions These results suggest that education that strengthens critical thinking disposition and caring-character is necessary to improve clinical competence, which is essential for performing professional practice. Therefore, the results of this study are suggested to be used as basic data for developing educational courses and educational programs to improve nursing practice competency.