Diagnostic thinking and its association with clinical competence among Iranian nurses in emergency departments

Background: Diagnostic thinking and clinical competence are the two main domains of efficient nursing care. This study assessed the association between diagnostic thinking and clinical competence among emergency nurses. Methods: The present correlation study was conducted in ۲۰۲۰ on ۱۱۳ nurses working in emergency departments in a northwestern province of Iran over two consecutive years. A stratified random sampling method was used for recruiting nurses. Data was gathered via a demographic questionnaire, the Diagnostic Thinking Inventory, and the Nurse Competence Scale and analyzed using the SPSS ۱۸ software. Pearson's correlation assessed the association between the nurses' diagnostic thinking and clinical competence at a significance level of ۰.۰۵. Results: According to the findings, the nurses’ diagnostic thinking abilities were poor (۱۵۴.۱۵ ±۱۵.۷۳, range of ۱۵۰-۱۵۵), while their clinical competence was good (۶۱.۶۲±۱۸.۹۷, range of ۵۱-۷۵). Significant correlations emerged between thinking flexibility, work role (r=۰.۲۲, p=۰.۰۱۷), and memory structure. In addition, thinking flexibility was significantly associated with work role (r=۰.۲۲, P=۰.۰۱۷), and memory structure was correlated with teaching-coaching function (r=۰.۲۲, P=۰.۰۱۵), diagnostic functions (r=۰.۲۵, P=۰.۰۰۶), management of situations (r=۰.۴۵, P=۰.۰۰۰۱), therapeutic interventions (r=۰.۴۲, P=۰.۰۰۰۱), regimens (r=۰.۱۸, P=۰.۰۵۶), and work role (r=۰.۴, P=۰.۰۰۰۱). Conclusion: Amplifying thinking procedures and using diagnostic thinking patterns enhance emergency nurses' practice, performance, and clinical competence and promote nursing care. Lecturers and planners must employ modern educational methods to increase nurses' thinking skills and clinical competence.

کلیدواژه ها:

Clinical competence ، Emergency nursing ، Emergency service ، Hospital ، Diagnostic thinking