Assessing the Relationship between Critical Thinking and Self-efficacy of Nursing Student

Self-efficacy has a significant role to apply knowledge, scientific and professional
skills. It is feasible to have more compatible and active students in both learning and their personal
and social life via developing critical thinking and general self-efficacy. This study assesses the
relationship between critical thinking and self-efficacy of nursing student.
Methods: The present correlation study was conducted on all senior nursing students (N = 50) in
2013. Study instruments included demographics, standard California Critical Thinking Skills and
Sherer general self-efficacy questionnaires. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software version
16 using descriptive statistics, Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficient tests.
Results: Results revealed that there was positive and significant correlation between critical
thinking and self-efficacy of nursing students (rs = 0.42, P = 0.002).
Conclusions: According to the positive relationship between critical thinking and self- efficacy of
nursing students, developing high level thinking skills as one of the most essential missions of higher
education is a necessity to apply appropriate approaches which lead to thinking development