Critical Thinkingin the Nursing Profession

“THE ESSENCE OF THE INDEPENDENT MIND LIES NOT IN WHAT IT THINKS, BUT

IN HOW IT THINKS.”- CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS

What is critical thinking?

Disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence.

Self-guided, self-disciplined thinking which attempts to reason at the highest level of quality in a fair minded way.

Reasonable reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do.

What qualities do critical thinkers posses?

Is open-minded and full of alternatives

Removes biases and considers points ofview that conflict with his or her own

Desires to be, and is, well informed

Judges well the credibility of sources

Asks appropriate clarifying questions

Can formulate a plausible hypothesis

A CRITICAL THINKER:

When would a nurse use critical thinking?

While performing a nursing assessment

When making a nursing diagnosis

When planning a nursing intervention

When carrying out nursing specialties, like case management and infection control

When they encounter a problem that appears to have no straight forward answer

Using Critical Thinking as a Nurse to Problem Solve

The solution to a client health problem is not always something one learns as a student while reading from a textbook.

When a nurse solves a problem using critical thinking, he or she digs beyond the information on the surface to uncover possible components beneath that may help reveal the answer.

They do not recycle the same information to every patient. They give individualized care by taking factors from each unique patient into consideration.

Scenarios in which a Nurse Must Use Critical

Thinking!

Critical ThinkingWhen Prioritizing

PATIENT A: 84 YEAR OLD FEMALE ADMITTED WITH HIGH GLUCOSE LEVELS; SHE NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH ADL’S AND IS INCONTINENT.

PATIENT B: 45 YEAR OLD FEMALE ADMITTED WITH HIGH FEVER; SHE NEEDS HER IV AND HER ANTIBIOTIC STARTED.

PATIENT C: 92 YEAR OLD FEMALE ADMITTED WITH CONFUSION AND DEHYDRATION. SHE IS HUNGRY AND WANTS TO TALK

Critical ThinkingTo Be Independent

AN IRRITABLE, LOUD CLIENT COMES INTO ER WITH A HIGH FEVER. THE NURSE HAS AN

ORDER FOR TYLENOL, AND THE CLIENT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED WITH NO ALLERGIES.

Critical ThinkingIn Risk Management

A CLIENT HAS BEEN OUT OF SURGERY FOR 3 HOURS WITH A PAIN LEVEL OF 6 OUT OF 10.

NURSE IS TO ADMINISTER MORPHINE P.O., BUT FIRST THE CLIENT ASKS FOR ASSISTANCE USING RESTROOM. SHE HAS A VISITOR.

THE END!