Comparative study of clinical reasoning competence and self‐directed learning competence in nurses across varied years of experience

Abstract

Objectives

To compare and analyse the differences in the clinical reasoning competence of nurses with different working years and their relationship with self-directed learning competence.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey design (online investigation) was used. A total of 376 nurses were recruited from four independent hospitals in China. Online questionnaires collected data on nurses' demographic characteristics and assessed their clinical reasoning and self-directed learning competence. Pearson correlation analysis, t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate regression analysis were used.

Results

Clinical reasoning competence scores of nurses with working years >10 years were higher than those of other nurses. Self-directed learning competence scores of nurses with working years of <1 year and (from ≥1 year to <3 years) were lower than those of nurses with working years of 6–10 years and >10 years. Self-directed learning competence scores of nurses with working years of 3–5 years were lower than those of nurses with working years of >10 years. There was a positive correlation between clinical reasoning competence, self-directed learning competence and each dimension among nurses of different working years. There are differences in the influence of different dimensions of self-directed learning competence on clinical reasoning competence among different working years.

Conclusion

There were differences in clinical reasoning and self-directed learning competence among nurses with different working years. Self-directed learning competence is a positive predictor of nurses' clinical reasoning competence, which applied to nurses with all working years; however, the specific effect of self-directed learning competence on clinical reasoning competence differed among nurses with different working years.

Implication for nursing managers

Nursing managers should pay attention to the development characteristics of clinical reasoning competence and self-directed learning competence of nurses with different working years and determine effective intervention strategies according to specific influencing factors.