title: Critical thinking in nursing: Scoping review of the literature.
abstract: This article seeks to analyse the current state of scientific knowledge concerning critical thinking in nursing. The methodology used consisted of a scoping review of the main scientific databases using an applied search strategy. A total of 1518 studies published from January 1999 to June 2013 were identified, of which 90 met the inclusion criteria. The main conclusion drawn is that critical thinking in nursing is experiencing a growing interest in the study of both its concepts and its dimensions, as well as in the development of training strategies to further its development among both students and professionals. Furthermore, the analysis reveals that critical thinking has been investigated principally in the university setting, independent of conceptual models, with a variety of instruments used for its measurement. We recommend (i) the investigation of critical thinking among working professionals, (ii) the designing of evaluative instruments linked to conceptual models and (iii) the identification of strategies to promote critical thinking in the context of providing nursing care.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Vall d'Hebron, University School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zuriguel Pérez
authors.affiliation: University School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lluch Canut
authors.affiliation: University School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falcó Pegueroles
authors.affiliation: University School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puig Llobet
authors.affiliation: University School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moreno Arroyo
authors.affiliation: Sant Joan de Deu School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|Rovira i Virigili University, Tarragona, Spain.|School of Nursing, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roldán Merino
mesh_terms: D004506:Education, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D013850:Thinking
keywords: critical thinking; nurses; nursing; nursing education; systematic review