The status of professional identity and professional self-efficacy of nursing students in China and how the medical documentaries affect them: A quasi-randomized controlled trial

Objectives: Professional identity and self-efficacy are important for the education and career develop-ment of students. However, how to improve these factors among Chinese nursing students needs further study. This quasi-randomized control trial was designed to explore the effect of medical documentaries on professional self-efficacy and identity among nursing students in Chinese technical schools. Methods: A total of 277 nursing students were enrolled in this study and divided into an experimental group (n = 135) and a control group (n = 142). The experimental group was invited to watch Chinese medical documentaries, whereas the control group remained on a waiting list. A self-designed general questionnaire, along with professional identity and professional self-efficacy questionnaires, was completed by the nursing students. Results: No significant change in professional self-efficacy was observed (-3.55 ± 14.23, P=0.173) in the experimental group, while professional identity significantly declined (-6.24 ± 12.85, P = 0.002) after the intervention. No significant change was found in the two aspects in the control group. Conclusion: Medical documentaries negatively affect professional identity but do not affect professional self-efficacy. Further researches should be conducted to explore the real reasons.

Measurement of professional identity in Chinese nursing students

Objectives:Chinese nurses continue to display low professional identity.It is becoming an emergent issue in China how to help nurse students develop their positive professional identity.This paper is to develop the Professional Identity Scale for Nursing Students(PISNS).Methods:Literature review,and interviews with students and experts were adopted to develop initial item.Reliability and validity of the scale were respectively examined by computing internal consistency coefficient alpha and split-half Spearman Brown for equal length,and Exploratory Principle Component Factor Analysis.Results:Five factors with 17-item were obtained explaining 58.9%of the total variance.Cronbach’s alpha,and split-half reliability was 0.83 and 0.84 respectively.Conclusions:Given its high reliability and validity,PISNS could be used as a measurement tool for educators to evaluate the developing level of professional identity in nursing students and assess the effectiveness of corresponding interventions and strategies.

Correlation between self-differentiation and professional adaptability among undergraduate nursing students in China

Purpose:This study aimed to investigate the current status of self-differentiation and professional adaptability among undergraduate nursing students,to analyze the relationship between these two variables,and to provide recommendations for nursing educators.Methods:A total of 341 nursing undergraduate students at the University of South China were investigated using the Differentiation of Self Inventory and the Professional Adaptability Scale for college students.Results:The mean scores of self-differentiation and professional adaptability were 3.70±0.60 and 2.87±0.37,respectively,and the two variables were positively correlated(P<0.01).Conclusion:The level of self-differentiation of undergraduate nursing studentsaffects their professional adaptability.Nursing educators should consider the characteristics of self-differentiation of undergraduate nursing students in developing measures to improve their professional adaptability.

Factors that Influence Professional Socialization in Nursing Students: A Multigroup Analysis

Background: Nursing professional socialization significantly influences the sustainable development of nursing students’ careers. This study aims to examine the factors that influence professional socialization in nursing students. Methods: This is a quantitative study of a sample of 108 nursing students (80 females and 28 males). The Simulation Learning Effectiveness Scale, Caring Assessment Report Evaluation Q-sort, Self-Reflection and Insight Scale, and Holistic Nursing Competence Scale were used to collect the data on the independent variables. The Team Skills Scale, Nursing Image as a Profession questionnaire, and Nursing Professional Commitment Scale were used to assess the level of students’ nursing professional socialization, which is an outcome construct variable. A multigroup analysis was used to examine the professional socialization research model. Results: The full model findings show that individual learning effectiveness had a significantly positive effect on nursing students’ caring behavior and on self-reflection and insight. In addition, caring behavior and self-reflection and insight had a significantly positive effect on nursing competence. Finally, nursing competence also had a significantly positive effect on nursing professional socialization. Overall, all independent variables were significant predictors of nursing professional socialization, explaining 36.7% of the variance in the integrated model of professional socialization. In addition, a permutation test revealed no differences in the two comparisons’ path coefficient estimates in the model (female vs. male). Conclusion: It is important to further strengthen nursing students’ self-learning effectiveness to promote their self-reflection and caring behavior. Increasing students’ nursing competence is a key factor in improving their professional socialization.

Correlation among academic self-efficacy,professional identity,and professional attitude of higher vocational nursing students

Objective:To analyze the influence of professional identity and academic efficacy on the professional attitude of higher vocational nursing students.Methods:A total of 656 higher vocational nursing students were investigated with general information questionnaire,academic self-efficacy scale,professional identity scale,and professional attitude scale of nursing students.Results:The score of professional attitude of higher vocational nursing students was(106.34±9.86),which is found to be in the upper middle level.The professional attitude of higher vocational nursing students is positively correlated with academic self-efficacy(P<0.05),and with learning ability self-efficacy(P<0.01).Professional cognition,professional will,and professional values have a positive predictive effect on the professional attitude of higher vocational nursing students(P<0.05).Conclusions:Academic self-efficacy and professional identity are important predictors of professional attitude.Learning behavior self-efficacy,professional cognition,professional will,and professional values have a significant impact on the establishment of positive professional attitude.

Nursing as a profession:Undergraduate female students’perception

Background and Objective: Nursing profession has a robust educational pathway into the practice and acontinuously growing body of knowledge within programs in higher education. This study aimed to investigate andcompare between first and fourth year nursing students’ perception toward their profession. Method: The studywas conducted at one of the biggest female governmental universities in Saudi Arabia in the college of nursing. Thestudy involved a convenient sample of 300 currently enrolled bachelors nursing students from the first and fourthyears in the college of nursing. Self-administered questionnaire was used in this study. Results: The majority ofstudy sample have joined the faculty of nursing due to grades foundation year and 50% of them have also a nursefriend or relative. Fourth year students were more proud than first year students when they are talking aboutnursing, and their image was changed to better after clinical training, majority of the participants have a positiveperception toward nursing, and no significant differences in perception of nursing profession between first andfourth year students. Conclusion: There are many students of first and fourth year who have no plans regardingchanging their profession. This may be an indication for a possible decreasing in the shortage of Saudi nurses. Butthere is still a need to improve the public image of nursing to attract students into nursing programs, and advisingshould be provided for students to develop positive perception towards nursing profession.

Professional values in nursing students in Jordan:baccalaureate nursing students’perception

Objective:Baccalaureate degree curricula consist of several professional values required for nursing students,which are taught in many ways.This study aimed to explore the perception of baccalaureate Jordanian nursing students regarding professional values and to assess the relationship between students’demographics and their perception of professional values.Methods:The study design was a descriptive,cross-sectional correlational design.A convenience sample of 182 Jordanian undergraduate nursing students enrolled at one of the most prominent universities in Jordan who completed and submitted a self-administered Nurses’Professional Values Scale(NPVS)was considered for this study.Results:The NPVS total score ranged from 37 to 130,with a relatively high total score mean(99.68 with a mean of 3.83 out of 5).The highest score domain in NPVS was“Justice”with a mean of 3.97,while the lowest ranked domain was“Activism”with a mean of 3.69.The correlation coefficient showed no statistically significant correlation between age nor accumulative students’average with a total score of Nurses Professional Values Scale-revised(NPVS-R)and its subdomains.The t test results showed that gender and type of students’enrollment(regular vs.upgrading)did not affect the means of NPVS-R and its subdomains.But differences were found to be statistically significant between the means of first year students and fourth year students in the total score of NPVS-R.Conclusions:Findings of the study alert nursing educators to pay more attention to the importance of promoting the values related to“activism”and“professionalism”among nursing students.Suggestions for enhancing the roles of peer supervision and providing peer review to colleagues would contribute to improving nursing students’performance and raising self-awareness because when nursing educators pay more attention to the items of these domains,better future nursing professionals,leaders,and researchers can be gained.Also,understanding nursing students’perceptions of the importance of professional values and the difficulties in its application would be vital to enlighten educators about the areas that need improvement.

Literature Review of Nursing Education Promoting Professional Socialization among Nursing Students

The aim of this review was to clarify the elements that promote socialization of nursing professionals from the findings of previous studies, with keywords related to socialization among undergraduate nursing students, and obtain indicators for promoting professional socialization in nursing students in the current nursing education. The literature review was conducted using a qualitative analysis of the promotion of professional socialization among nursing students. The results were reported according to the reporting checklist of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. The authors conducted a literature search using electronic databases in July 2021, such as CINAHL (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (EBSCOhost) for English articles, and Ichushi for Japanese articles. Included studies were from 1985 to 2021. Previous studies were integrated to current studies. A total of 23 articles in English and 34 articles in Japanese were analyzed. The methods for promoting professional socialization in nursing students include self-learning, online media, extracurricular elements, and clinical practice. Socialization process differed for each school year;the first-year students tend to have ideological answers, while the fourth-year students tend to have practical answers as a result of education. The process needs supports from instructors and mentors. Nursing education promoting professional socialization in nursing students has developed diverse modeling, positive effects for improving social skills, and impact of self-efficacy and self-esteem and has fostered professional commitment and professional identity. However, loss of idealism of professional identity after graduation should be considered with supports from instructors and mentors. To establish nursing professional identity smoothly, nursing instructors supporting skills should be developed by understanding students’ stage of professional socialization.

Mediating effect of undergraduate nursing students’ professional commitment on positive psychological capital and learning burnout

Objective:The objective of this study is to explore the mediating role of professional commitment of undergraduate nursing students between positive psychological capital(PsyCap)and learning burnout.Materials and Methods:A cluster sampling method was used to survey 442 students of a bachelor’s degree in freshman to the junior in a medical college in Shaanxi Province.Results:Professional commitment was positively related to positive PsyCap(=0.487,P<0.01),while positive PsyCap and professional commitment were negatively related to learning burnout(r=−0.456,r=−0.411,P all<0.01).There are certain mediating effects of professional commitment in the relationship between positive PsyCap and learning burnout.The mediating effect value of professional commitment is−0.065,accounting for 16.08%of the total effect.Conclusion:Nursing educators in medical colleges and universities should focus on developing and training the positive PsyCap of undergraduate nursing students,thereby enhancing and stabilizing their professional commitment level and reducing the risk of learning burnout.

Research progress on professional identity assessment tools for nursing students in China

This paper introduced the concept of nursing students’ professional identity and described the development process.At the same time this paper introduced the assessment content, applicable population and scoring methods.Reliability and validity of the scales and the application status of commonly used assessment tools of professionalidentity of nursing students were introduced. This study aims to provide guidance for clinical staff and nursingeducators to select targeted professional identity assessment tools for nursing students.

The effects of Professional Commitment and Patient Safety knowledge-attitude-practice on Undergraduate nursing students’ Humanistic Care Ability in clinical practice

Objective:To describe the status quo of humanistic care ability,the knowledge-attitude-practice of Patient Safety and professional commitment among Undergraduate Nursing Students in clinical practice,and to determine the effects of professional commitment and patient safety knowledge-attitude-practice on humanistic care ability.Methods:Two hundred and thirty-two undergraduate nursing students in clinical practice were investigated with the general questionnaire,Caring Ability Inventory(CAI),Patients Safety knowledge-attitude-practice(KAP)Questionnaire and the Nursing Professional Commitment Scale.Results:The score of humanistic care ability of nursing undergraduates was 185.19±20.95,patients safety KAP score was 106.94±11.62,professional commitment score was 74.93±10.44.Undergraduate nursing students’humanistic care ability were positively correlated with professional commitment and patients safety KAP(P<0.05).Multiple Linear regression analysis showed that professional commitment,patient safety KAP entered the humane care equation(F=24.051,P<0.001),and explained 39.1%of the total variation in humane care.Intermediate effect analysis shows that patient safety played a partial mediating role in professional commitment and humane care.Conclusion:The professional commitment and patient safety KAP of undergraduate nursing students were positively related to their humanistic care ability.Improving the professional commitment and knowledge and patients safety KAP of nursing students can strengthen their humanistic care ability to provide high-quality nursing for patients.

Preceptors'experiences in guiding nursing students to use research findings and to implement evidence-based practice

Objective:Evidence-based practices(EBPs)have been taught to students by identifying the best evidence/evidence from research results.However,the experiences of Indonesian nurse preceptors in helping students implement research findings have not been explored thoroughly.This study aimed to explore Indonesian nurse preceptors in guiding nursing students to use research findings.Methods:This study used interpretive phenomenology analysis that involves 9 nurse preceptors from hospitals in West Kalimantan,Indonesia.Semi-structured in-depth interviews were recorded and then transcribed verbatim.Results:Three themes were generated during the analysis:“types of student supervision,”“issues during supervision,”and“the need for research literacy and supervision.”Conclusions:Nurse preceptors need support to supervise the nursing students to use research findings.In addition to upgrading nursing skills,nurse preceptors must receive training in research and its utilization.Developing an appropriate strategy to assist students in using research findings will enhance the promotion of evidence-based nursing practices on a daily basis.

Evaluating the feasibility and preliminary effects of an online compassion training program for nursing students:A pilot randomized controlled trial

Objectives:This study aimed to assess the feasibility of an online compassion training program for nursing students and preliminarily investigate its effects on mindfulness,self-compassion,and stress reduction.Methods:This study employed a randomized controlled trial design.Second-year students from a nursing college in Guangzhou,China,were recruited as research participants in August 2023.The intervention group participated in an 8-week online compassion training program via the WeChat platform,comprising three stages:mindfulness(weeks 1e2),self-compassion(weeks 3e5),and compassion for others(weeks 6 e8).Each stage included four activities:psychoeducation,mindfulness practice,weekly diary,and emotional support.Program feasibility was assessed through recruitment and retention rates,program engagement,and participant acceptability.Program effectiveness was measured with the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale,Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form,and Perceived Stress Scale.Results:A total of 28 students completed the study(13 in the intervention group,15 in the control group).The recruitment rate was 36.46%,with a high retention rate of 93.3%.Participants demonstrated high engagement:69.2%accessed learning materials every 1e2 days,93.3%practiced mindfulness at least weekly,with an average of 4.69 diary entries submitted per person and 23.30 WeChat interactions with instructors.Regarding acceptability,all participants expressed satisfaction with the program,with 92.4%finding it“very helpful”or“extremely helpful.”In terms of intervention effects,the intervention group showed a significant increase in mindfulness levels from pre-intervention(51.54±10.93)to postintervention(62.46±13.58)(P<0.05),while no significant change was observed in the control group.Although there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in post-intervention self-compassion and perceived stress levels,the intervention group showed positive trends:selfcompassion levels increased(35.85±8.60 vs.40.85±5.54),and perceived stress levels slightly decreased(44.77±8.65 vs.42.00±5.77).Conclusions:This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of an online compassion training program for nursing students and suggested its potential effectiveness in enhancing mindfulness,self-compassion,and stress reduction.Despite limitations such as small sample size and lack of long-term follow-up,preliminary evidence indicates promising prospects for integrating such training into nursing education.Further research is warranted to confirm thesefindings and assess the sustained impact of this approach on nursing education and practice.

Current Situation Analysis of Nursing Students'Professional Attitudes and Employment Intentions during COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective:To understand the status of nursing students'professional attitudes,professional identity,and employment intention under the new coronary pneumonia pandemic,and to analyze the factors influencing nursing students'employment intention.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 689 nursing students using a questionnaire,and the results were analyzed by multiple unordered and ordered regressions.Results:47.17%of the nursing students chose to work in clinical nursing in the future;95.5%of the nursing students preferred to work in Grade III class hospital hospitals;0.73%of the nursing students actively chose to work in the infectious disease unit in the background of COVID-19 pandemic.In the analysis of professional attitudes,female nursing students scored higher than male nursing students;Senior students and above scored significantly higher than junior nursing students;nursing students who had internship experience scored higher than those who had not;nursing students who had someone close to them who was involved in the rescue work of the COVID-19 pandemic scored higher in professional attitudes.Regression analysis showed that the higher the professional identity score,the more likely the nursing students were to choose a nursing-related job and expect a higher salary;nursing students who chose nursing because it was easy to find a job,followed the advice of others,or had a family income of less than 3000 yuan per capita also expected a higher salary.In the context of the pandemic,nursing students with high career attitude scores were less likely to choose clinical nursing jobs;students without nursing practitioners at home were less likely to choose hospitals and health management organizations;nursing students with high career identity were more likely to choose Grade III class hospitals.Conclusion:The outbreak of COVID-19 has influenced the employment intention of nursing students,in the background of pandemic,about half of them still choose to engage in clinical nursing work;most of them recognize the outstanding contribution and professional value of nurses in the fight against epidemic.Meanwhile,through this research,it is believed that nursing students at school have insufficient awareness of infectious diseases and other public health emergencies.It is recommended that relevant colleges and universities strengthen knowledge and related courses on the prevention and control of infectious diseases and public health emergency events.

Preparedness,knowledge,and perception of nursing students about climate change and its impact on human health in India

Higher education plays an important role in all aspects of sustainability.Infusing climate change and sustainability into the curriculum is important to prepare future health-care professionals for climate change and sustainability actions to build resilient health systems.In this study,we evaluated the preparedness,knowledge,and perception regarding climate change and its impact on human health among Indian nursing students.A quantitative descriptive survey was conducted among 644 undergraduate nursing students studying in three institutes in the southern,northern,and western parts of India.We used a structured online questionnaire with established validity and reliability to collect data.The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26 software.The results showed that more than half of the students reported experiencing excessive increase(362;56.2%)and decrease(374;58.1%)in temperature in recent years.Though more than three quarters of the students(494;76.7%)accepted the general truth that climate change is mainly caused by human activities,only less than half of the students(309;48.0%)perceived the impact of climate change to be high.Three quarters of the students(483;75.0%)had a high level of knowledge regarding climate change.The students who had a high level of knowledge about climate change exerted a high perceived impact of climate change(χ^(2)=75.47;P<0.01).More than half of the students(50.9%)felt that they needed information about climate change to be included in the nursing curriculum,and only one sixth of the students(16.1%)were highly confident about engaging in climate change-related conversation with patients.Most of the students who participated in the study had basic knowledge about climate change and its impact on human health.However,there is an observed gap between knowledge and their preparedness and confidence to engage in climate change actions.Hence,we propose to strengthen the nursing curriculum by integrating various curricular and co-curricular activities related to climate change,so that future nurses are empowered to become climate change advocates.

Association of spiritual well-being with quality of life among undergraduate nursing students

Objective:The study was conducted with the aim of determining the spiritual well-being(SWB)of nursing students and its association with quality of life(QOL).Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with a sample size of 504 nursing students collected from January 2023 to March 2023 in the nursing institutes of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Pakistan,using convenient sampling techniques.A Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure(SHALOM)questionnaire for SWB and K-27 QOL(K-27 QOL)instrument were used for data collection that contains three parts.Results:The number of female participants was in the majority(50.4%)compared to male nurses(49.6%).The overall mean score of SWB of the students was 3.79±0.48,while the mean K-27 QOL score was 3.73±0.57.There were significant differences between the groups of gender(P=0.001),while no significant difference within the groups of semester(P=0.061)and college status(0.285).In QOL,there were significant differences within the groups of semester(P=0.000)and college status(P=0.036)while no significant difference in gender category(P=0.480).SHALOM score is positively and moderately correlated with QOL score(r=0.597,P<0.05).Conclusion:Spiritual practices are one of the important factors that are associated positively with QOL,therefore to enhance the QOL,it will require spiritual practices.

The Impact of Simulation Education on Self-Efficacy in Pre-Registration Nursing Students

This literature review primarily aims to explore and synthesise the previous studies in simulation education research conducted over the past five years related to the effects of simulation training on the self-efficacy of undergraduate pre-registration nursing students. The second aim of this study is to explore additional outcome variables that were examined in the previous studies. Five electronic databases were searched systematically. These databases were MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, Embase and PsycINFO. The PICO model was employed to identify the search terms, with a thesaurus being used to provide synonyms. Reference lists of relevant articles were examined and hand searches of journals were also undertaken. The quality of each study was assessed using the Simulation Research Rubric (SRR). A total of 11 studies were included. All studies explored the impact of simulation education on undergraduate pre-registration nursing. Six studies explored nursing students’ competence and performance and two papers examined their critical thinking. Problem solving, learning motivation, communication skills and knowledge acquisition were examined once. The majority of studies indicated that simulation training has a positive impact on pre-registration nursing students’ self-efficacy and other outcome variables. Furthermore, the study results indicate that simulation training is more dependable than traditional training, and students were extremely satisfied with the simulation training. However, most of the studies included in this review had several gaps, including study design, sample size and dissimilarities between the scales used. Further research with large samples, reliable and valid instruments, and outcomes measures (such as critical thinking and transferability of skills) is required to provide better insight into the effectiveness of simulation in undergraduate nursing education. .

Challenges Experienced by Nurse Educators in Promoting Acquisition of Clinical Reasoning Skills by the Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Qualitative Exploratory Study

Background: Clinical reasoning is an essential skill for nursing students since it is required to solve difficulties that arise in complex clinical settings. However, teaching and learning clinical reasoning skills is difficult because of its complexity. This study, therefore aimed at exploring the challenges experienced by nurse educators in promoting acquisition of clinical reasoning skills by undergraduate nursing students. Methods: A qualitative exploratory research design was used in this study. The participants were purposively sampled and recruited into the study. Data were collected using semi-structured interview guides. Thematic analysis method was used to analyze the collected data The principles of beneficence, respect of human dignity and justice were observed. Results: The findings have shown that clinical learning environment, lacked material and human resources. The students had no interest to learn the skill. There was also knowledge gap between nurse educators and clinical nurses. Lack of role model was also an issue and limited time exposure. Conclusion: The study revealed that nurse educators encounter various challenges in promoting the acquisition of clinical reasoning skills among undergraduate nursing students. Training institutions and hospitals should periodically revise the curriculum and provide sufficient resources to facilitate effective teaching and learning of clinical reasoning. Nurse educators must also update their knowledge and skills through continuous professional development if they are to transfer the skill effectively.

The Emotional Intelligence and the Associated Factors among Nursing Students

Introduction: Emotional intelligence, or the capacity to cope one’s emotions, makes it simpler to form good connections with others and do caring duties. Nursing students can enroll a health team in a helpful and beneficial way with the use of emotional intelligence. Nurses who can identify, control, and interpret both their own emotions and those of their patients provide better patient care. The purpose of this study was to assess the emotional intelligence and to investigate the relationship and differences between emotional intelligence and demographic characteristics of nursing students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 381 nursing students. Data collection was completed by “Schutte Self Report Emotional Intelligence Test”. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Science. An independent t test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression were used. Results: The results revealed that the emotional intelligence mean was 143.1 ± 21.6 (ranging from 33 to 165), which is high. Also, the analysis revealed that most of the participants 348 (91.3%) had higher emotional intelligence level. This finding suggests that nursing students are emotionally intelligent and may be able to notice, analyze, control, manage, and harness emotion in an adaptive manner. Also, academic year of nursing students was a predictor of emotional intelligence. Furthermore, there was positive relationship between the age and emotional intelligence (p < 0.05). The students’ ability to use their EI increased as they rose through the nursing grades. Conclusion: This study confirmed that the emotional intelligence score of the nursing students was high. Also, academic year of nursing students was a predictor of emotional intelligence. In addition, a positive relationship was confirmed between the emotional intelligence and age of nursing students. .

Exploring Critical Thinking Dispositions among Fourth Year BSc Nursing Students of Various Colleges of Nursing, Pakistan

Background: Critical Thinking (CT) dispositions in nursing are prominent predictors of competence in delivering high-quality care, and of professionalism, in newly graduated nurses. CT skills, in isolation of CT dispositions, do not guarantee success in the workplace, because Critical Thinking Dispositions (CTD) are important elements of intellectual reasoning that simulate a person towards using the CT skills. Therefore, nursing educational programs should promote lifelong learning rather than focusing on transferring the content of nursing knowledge only. And for this purpose, quality education is the key. Education should focus on teaching from diverse perspectives, incorporating various teaching learning strategies that are congruent with the modern era. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore critical thinking dispositions among final year Baccalaureate Nursing students of various military colleges of nursing, in Pakistan. Methodology: A descriptive qualitative exploratory study design was used to investigate the CTD of BSc final year nursing students. The study population included twelve willing nursing students, from six military colleges across the country. Demographic information and consent was taken from the participants of the study. In-depth interviews, through a semi structured interview guide, and probes were used to obtain data related to personal experiences of CTD amongst the nursing students. Results: Data analysis showed two broad themes: 1) Perceptions of CT, and 2) Experiences of CT dispositions. In theme one, the emerging category was: Clarity of CT;whereas in theme two, the categories that emerged were: a) Truth Seeking, b) Open Mindedness, c) Inquisitiveness, and d) Self Organization. Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed positive dispositions towards truth seeking, open mindedness, and self-organization, whereas disposition towards inquisitiveness was weak. Self-confidence and maturity also emerged as positive factors that the students possessed. This study recommends that faculty and learners should extend their concept of CTD, and emphasizes its application in daily routine. Additionally, faculty should modify their instructional strategies and focus on the cultivation of dispositions of inquisitiveness, curiosity, and allow questioning by students in the class.