title: Critical thinking of registered nurses in a fellowship program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Critical thinking is essential to nursing practice. This study examined differences in the critical thinking dispositions of registered nurses (RNs) in a nursing fellowship program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Control and experimental groups were used to compare differences in scores on the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) of RNs at three points during a fellowship program: baseline, week 7, and month 5. The control group consisted of RNs who received no education in critical thinking. The experimental group received education in critical thinking using simulated scenarios and reflective journaling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CCTDI scores examined with analysis of variance showed no significant difference within groups over time or between groups. The baseline scores of the experimental group were slightly higher than those of the control group. Chi-square analysis of demographic variables between the two groups showed no significant differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Critical thinking dispositions are a combination of attitudes, values, and beliefs that make up one's personality based on life experience. Lack of statistical significance using a quantitative approach did not capture the development of the critical thinking dispositions of participants. A secondary qualitative analysis of journal entries is being conducted.
authors.affiliation: Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park NY, USA. szori@nshs.edu
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zori
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: M Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D013850:Thinking