Title: Critical Thinking and The Nursing Process
1Critical Thinking and The Nursing Process
- Raquel D. Esguerra RN, MAN, CCRN
2What is critical thinking?(general definition)
- intellectually disciplined process.
- based on observation, experience, reflection,
reasoning /or communication. - analyzing, synthesizing, conceptualizing,
applying, /or evaluating information. - produces a belief or action.
3What is critical thinking?(in the context of
nursing)
- entails purposeful, informed, outcome-focused
thinking that requires careful identification of
key problems, issues and risks involved. - is driven by patient, family and community needs.
- is based on principles of nursing process and
scientific method. - use both logic and intuition, based on knowledge,
skills and experience. - is guided by professional standards and ethic
codes. - is constantly re-evaluating, self-correcting and
striving to improve.
4Why focus on critical thinking?
- Things arent what they used to be, or what they
will be. - Patients are sicker, with multiple problems.
- More consumer involvement (patients and
families). - Nurses must be able to move from one setting to
another. - Rapid change and information explosion require us
to develop new learning and workplace skills. - 5 Consumers and payers demand to see evidence of
benefits, efficiency and results.
5Why focus on critical thinking?
- Todays progress often creates new problems that
can not be solved by old ways of thinking. - Redesigning care delivery and nursing curricula
is useless if students and nurses dont have the
thinking skills required to deal with todays
world. - It can be done-it doesnt have to be that
difficult. - 1 Your ability to focus your thinking to get the
results you need can make the difference between
whether you succeed or fail in this fast-paced
world
6CREATIVITY
- a major component of critical thinking
- thinking that results in development of new ideas
and products - required when a nurse encounters a new situation
or a client situation in which traditional
interventions are not effective - Requires knowledge of the problem to come up with
a creative solution
7With creativity, nurses - - -
- Are generally flexible and natural
- Generate many ideas rapidly
- Create original solutions to problems
- Tend to be independent and self-confident, even
when under pressure - Demonstrate individuality
8How Nurses Use Critical Thinking
- Use knowledge from multiple subjects and fields.
- Deal with change in stressful environments.
- Make important, life impacting decisions.
9Critical Analysis
Skills in Critical Thinking
Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
10Critical Analysis
- The application of set of questions to a
particular situation or idea to determine
essential information and ideas and discard
superfluous information and ideas - Socratic questioning
- Box 15-1, Text p. 246
- Can be used during end-of-shift report, planning
care, discussing a clients care with colleagues
11Inductive reasoning
- Generalizations are formed from a set of facts or
observations - Example
- Symptoms dry skin, poor turgor, sunken eyes,
dark amber urine - What do you think is wrong with this client?
12Deductive reasoning
- Reasoning from general to specific
- Example the nurse starts from a conceptual
framework (Maslows Hierarchy of Needs) and makes
descriptive interpretations of clients condition - Given a medical diagnosis, the nurse makes
nursing diagnoses
13Give an Example of
- A fact
- An inference
- A judgment
- An opinion
14(No Transcript)
15Attitudes that foster Critical Thinking
- Independent thinking
- Fair-Mindedness
- Insight into Egocentricity vs. Sociocentricity
- Intellectual Humility Suspension of Judgment
- Intellectual Courage
- Integrity
- Perseverance
- Confidence in Reason
- Interest in Exploring Thoughts and Feelings
- Curiosity
16When do Nurses Use Critical Thinking?
- To prioritize nursing actions
- To resolve conflict
- To implement change
- To analyze situations
- To solve problems
- To make decisions
17The Nursing Process
- systematic
- rational
- method for planning and provision of
individualized nursing care
18How do you solve problems?
- Trial and error?
- Intuition?
- Research process and scientific method or
modified scientific method?
19Decision making process
- Identify the purpose
- Set the criteria
- Weigh the criteria
- Seek alternatives
- Examine alternatives
- Project
- Implement
- Evaluate the outcome
20Developing Critical-Thinking Attitudes and Skills
- Self-Assessment
- Think about a decision you made that you later
regretted. Analyze the attitudes you had at that
time and your thinking process. What could you
have adjusted in your thinking that would have
achieved a better outcome?
21Tolerating Dissonance and Ambiguity
- Nurses should increase their tolerance for ideas
that contradict previously held beliefs, and they
should practice suspending judgment (tolerating
ambiguity for a time) - Need to say I dont know and be comfortable
with it until further information is available or
known
22Seeking Situations Where Good Thinking is
Practiced
- Nurses should attend conferences in clinical or
educational settings that support open
examination of all sides of the issue and respect
for opposing viewpoints
23Creating Environment that Support Critical
Thinking
- Nurse leaders should actively create a
stimulating environment that encourages
differences of opinion and fair examination of
ideas and options - As leaders, nurses should encourage colleagues to
examine evidence carefully before they come to
conclusions, and to avoid group think, the
tendency to defer unthinkingly to the will of the
group