The Relationship between Problem Solving Ability, Professional Self Concept, and Critical Thinking Disposition of Nursing Students

The purpose of this study was to identify problem-solving ability, professional self concept, and critical thinking disposition of nursing students in Korea. This study employed a crosssectional survey design. The participants were 168 nursing students in the Republic of Korea. The factors that had the greatest influence on problem solving ability were ethics as subscale of professional self concept, intellectual honesty and prudence as subscale of critical thinking disposition, college type, and experience of clinical practice. The factors that had the greatest influence on problem solving ability were ethics (s=.698, p=<.001) as subscale of professional self concept, intellectual honesty (s=.211, p=<.001), prudence (s=.157, p=<.001), college type (s=.127, p=.002), experience of clinical practice (s=.089, p=.031). These five factors were found to be the significant predictors for problem solving ability of nursing students. The findings from this study demonstrate the fundamental importance of professional self concept and critical thinking disposition to improve problem solving ability for nursing students. Our results suggest that in the long run, professional self concept and critical thinking disposition will enhance overall problem solving ability of nurse, thus improve nursing care for patient.