Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-906617620120922764764ENFaculty of Razi School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman University of Medical ‎SciencesFaculty of Islamic Azad University Unit of MashadEpidemiology, Kerman ‎University of Medical Sciences20120922<p>Context:</p> <p>&nbsp;The ability to think critically is an essential element in nursing education and &lrm;more specifically in nurses&rsquo; clinical decision making (CDM).&lrm;</p> <p>Aims:</p> <p>&nbsp;Critical thinking (CT) and CDM ability as well as their relationship were &lrm;examined among nursing students of Kerman University.&lrm;</p> <p>Settings and Design: Study was designed in four towns: Kerman, Bam, Jiroft, and Zarand, &lrm;settled in Kerman province.&lrm;</p> <p>Materials and Methods:</p> <p>&nbsp;This research was a cross-sectional descriptive correlation study. &lrm;&lrm;300 nursing students with different level of education were asked to fill two questionnaires &lrm;including: (1) California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) and (2) Lauri and Salantera &lrm;&lrm;(2002) CDM instrument. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed with SPSS12 and &lrm;descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Nursing students yielded a low score (mean = &lrm;&lrm;5/40 from 20) of CT and a mild score (mean = 12.8 from 20) of CDM. We found positively &lrm;correlation between male and CT and CDM score with mean score of the nursing student. &lrm;Also CDM score in male was more than female but not significant, and Jirofts CDM &lrm;nursing student was significantly better than other city.&lrm;</p> <p>Conclusions:</p> <p>&nbsp;Although students that answers evaluation question in CCTST better can &lrm;gave better CDM score but there isn't relationship between CT and CDM of nursing &lrm;student. The finding showed that mean score of nursing student CT was low. Reason can be &lrm;either due to the defects of nursing education program, teaching, and learning strategies.&lrm;</p> <p>Key words: Clinical research, decision making, nursing education, nursing students, &lrm;thinking</p>http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/764http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/download/764/580