Relationship between critical thinking ability and medication safety competence among clinical nurses: A multicenter cross‐sectional study

Abstract Aims and Objectives This study investigated the relationship between clinical nurses' critical thinking ability and medication safety competence, as well as the factors related to medication safety competence. Background Nurses can have an active role in promoting medication safety. However, the main factors associating with nurses' competence in medication safety are uncertain. Design This was a descriptive, multicenter cross‐sectional survey study. Methods A total of 1196 nurses from four different tertiary hospital in China were included in this study. A demographic information questionnaire, the Critical Thinking Diagnostic for nurses, and the Medication Safety Competence Scale for nurses were used to survey. Descriptive statistics, comparisons, correlation and regression analysis of the collected data were performed using SPSS 26.00 software. The study was reported using STROBE checklist. Results Included nurses obtained satisfactory scores on the critical thinking and medication safety scales and subscales. There was a strong statistically significant positive correlation between critical thinking ability and medication safety competence. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that personal critical thinking scores and working years were positively associated with nurses' medication safety scores, accounting for 62.50% of the variance. Conclusion Clinical nurses' critical thinking ability is positively associated with medication safety competence. Relevance to Clinical Practice As critical thinking ability positively predicts nurses' medication safety competence, hospitals and nursing administrators should consider continuing nursing education and training to improve critical thinking skills, thereby promoting medication safety competence among clinical nurses.