The relationship between critical thinking and job performance among nurses: A descriptive survey study.

AIM: This study investigated the relationship between nurses' critical thinking skills and job performance and whether critical thinking and its subdomains predict job performance. BACKGROUND: It is expected that nurses may use critical thinking skills to provide evidence-based quality patient care in health care settings. However, there is limited evidence about whether critical thinking is related to job performance among nurses. DESIGN: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional survey study. METHODS: The study included 368 nurses working in the inpatient wards of a university hospital in Turkey. The survey included a demographic information questionnaire, the Critical Thinking Scale in Clinical Practice for Nurses and the Nurses' Job Performance Scale. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, comparisons, reliability and normality tests, correlation and regression analysis. RESULTS: Participating nurses got average scores from the critical thinking and job performance scale and sub-scales, and there was a positive, mid-level and statistically significant correlation between the scale scores. According to the multiple linear regression analysis results, personal critical thinking, interpersonal and self-management critical thinking and the total critical thinking scores positively affected the job performance scores of nurses. CONCLUSION: As critical thinking predicts nurses' job performance, managers of hospitals and nursing services should consider training programs or activities to increase nurses' essential thinking competencies, thus improving clinical nurses' performances.

Usage of a Bundle Application Process in Decreasing Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infections.

AIM: To determine the effect of using three concurrent measures (2% chlorhexidine gluconate +70% alcohol for skin cleaning, changing the dressing every 48 hours, and observing the operating room) for patients who had venriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) implantations on the infection rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective interventional study. Using infection prevention compliance control lists, patients who had a VPS implanted between November 2012 and November 2013 were compared to those who had a VPS implanted between October 2011 and October 2012. The data included information about the patients, follow-up, and infection prevention. These data were obtained for the pre-, peri-, and postoperative periods. RESULTS: Triple bundle prevention in the applied protocol significantly reduced the VPS infection rate in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: These findings revealed the importance of creating a prevention protocol and following it regularly in a way for all surgery, operating room, and service teams fully comply to prevent VPS infections.