critical thinking in nursing
Complex phenomenon
Can be defined as a process and as a set of skills
Uses knowledge and reasoning to make accurate clinical judgements
Foundation of clinical reasoning (process) and clinical judgement (outcome)
cognitive skills in critical thinking
Interpretation
Analysis
Inference
Evaluation
Self-regulation
dispositions for critical thinking
Truth-seeking
Open-mindedness
Analyticity
Systematicity
Self-confidence
Inquisitiveness
Maturity
levels of critical thinking
Basic → rule-based, right/wrong
Complex → analytical + creative
Commitment → responsible clinical autonomy
clinical reasoning vs judgement
Clinical reasoning → cognitive process
Clinical judgement → outcome / result
5 rights of clinical reasoning
Right cues
Right action
Right client
Right time
Right reason
phases of clinical reasoning
Client problem presentation – recognize and identify one or more problems
Client problem assessment – collect data and recognize patterns
Client problem analysis – analyze and interpret data to see relationships
Client problem hypothesis – categorize data; determine priority problems and actions
Client problem evaluation – test/evaluate hypothesis and determine client response
benner’s levels of critical thinking
Novice – beginning practitioner, lack experience
Advanced beginner – marginally acceptable performance based on limited experience
Competent – ~2–3 years of experience
Proficient – broad experience, sees the “big picture”
Expert – extensive experience; intuitive grasp of situations
reasoning types
Inductive
Deductive
Abductive
ADPIE
Assessment – collect information
Diagnosis – analyze data, determine diagnoses
Planning – identify expected outcomes
Implementation – perform evidence-based interventions
Evaluation – determine progress toward expected outcome
missed nursing care
anything omitted or delayed
basic of communication
Exchange of information
Receiver interprets meaning
Listening > hearing
Influenced by perception + biases
barriers to active listening
Preoccupation
Anxiety
Personal insecurity
Discomfort
Too much information
evidence-informed knowledge
Knowledge based on research or clinical expertise
Helps make you a critical thinker
Improves patient outcomes
interpretation
Looking for patterns
Ordering and categorizing data
Clarifying data
analyses
Avoiding careless assumptions
Asking whether data really shows what you think is true
Considering other possible scenarios
inference
Examining meanings and relationships in data
Forming hypotheses based on data
Drawing conclusions from data
evaluation
Assessing situations objectively
Using criteria to measure effectiveness
Identifying required changes
Reflecting on own behaviour
self-regulation
Reflecting on experiences
Adhering to standards
Applying ethical principles
Seeking ways to improve practice
truth seeking
learn what actually happened, consider scientific principles + evidence, even if they do not support preconceptions/beliefs
open-mindedness
be receptive to new ideas/others views. Respect right to hold diff opinions, be aware of own prejudice
analyticity
determine significant of situation, interpret meaning, use evidence-informed knowledge, anticipate results/consequences
systematicity
organized, focus on data collection
self-confidence
trust own reasoning, seek confirmation when unsure