PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe competency in evidence-based practice (EBP) among clinical nurses and to explore critical thinking disposition (CTD) and organizational culture (OC) as possible predictors for competency in EBP. Also this study was conducted to identify baseline data for purpose of developing evidence-based OC to ensure safety of patients and to improve quality of nursing services in clinical setting. METHODS: With a descriptive correlation study design, a competency in EBP questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of nurses (N=393) from a single general hospital in Gyeonggi Province. RESULTS: The overall mean score for competency in EBP was 3.03+/-0.53. Factors influencing competency in EBP were education (beta=0.23, p<.001), attendance at lectures on EBP (beta=0.18, p<.001), intellectual eagerness & healthy skepticism (beta=0.27, p<.001) among CTD, and hierarchy-oriented OC (beta=0.14, p=.005), which explained about 35% of the total variance. CONCLUSION: Critical thinking and competency in EBP should be part of nursing education especially for undergraduate students as well as strengthening clinical practice by activation of EBP. The results of this study that hierarchy-oriented OC, is a significant predictor for competency in EBP is difficult to accept. Its seemed to require further exploration.
Education ; Education, Nursing ; Evidence-Based Practice* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Lectures ; Nursing Services ; Organizational Culture ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Statistics as Topic ; Thinking

Purpose: This study to identify valuated the competency in nursing leadership among new nurses through the perception of nursing managers. Methods: This a total of 136 nursing managers from two general hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area were included in this study. Nursing leadership competencies in new nurses were measured using the Student Leadership Practices Inventory developed by Kouzes and Posner. We identified priorities in the development of nursing leadership competencies for new nurses. Results: The overall importance and performance of nursing leadership competencies for new nurses were assessed by nursing managers at an average of 3.92±0.37 and, 2.84±0.50, respectively. Of the 30 nursing leadership competencies, 11 would need to be maintained and strengthened, seven would need to focus on improvement efforts, and 11 would have low priority. The last one was overdone. Conclusion Of the 18 items of high importance based on the nursing leadership competencies among new nurses identified, for seven items indicating low performance, the performance of nurses should be improved by introducing nursing leadership development programs after they enter the work environment. Eleven low-priority nursing leadership competencies require a long-term strategic approach and need to spread the understanding of nursing leadership throughout the nursing organization.