ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: A descriptive survey was used in this study to identify the relationship between nurses' critical thinking disposition, self-directed learning readiness and professional nursing competency and to examine factors that influence professional nursing competency. METHODS: The data were collected from 188 nurses and analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe' test, Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple regression analysis with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 PC program. RESULTS: Professional nursing competency was found to have significant pure correlations with critical thinking disposition (r=.59, p<.001), and self-directed learning readiness (r=.54, p<.001). The most influential factor influencing nurses' professional nursing competency was critical thinking disposition, followed by self-directed learning readiness (beta=.25, p=.003), work department (beta=.19, p=.001), total clinical career (beta=.19, p=.003), and position (beta=.12, p=.040), and these factors explained 43.8% of the variance in professional nursing competency. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate the necessity of developing and applying strategies and educational programs to enhance individual nurse's critical thinking disposition and self-directed learning readiness. Furthermore, exploration is needed on ways to enhance professional nursing competency.