CRITICAL THINKING AND

THE NURSING PROCESS

Critical Thinking and
Nursing Judgment

Thinking is a skill which each
human being practices in
his/her own way .
Each person thinks about how
to organize the activities of the
day
Thinking is so automatic that
we do not pay much attention
to how to think, thinking is a
complex process.
Critical Thinking and
Nursing Judgment
The complex legal, educational &
professional problems
confronting nurses today
emphasize the need for more that
memory.
Today critical thinking is an
expected competency of nurses
at all levels of education &
practice .
Critical Thinking and
Nursing Judgment
What is critical thinking
How do I learn to think
critically
Critical thinking and
Nursing Judgment
Dictionary meaning of thinking
a mental activity in which one
forms:
thought in mind
forms intentions
determines by reflection
attains clear ideas
Definition of Critical
Thinking
Cognitive process during which an
individual reviews data and considers
potential explanations and outcomes
before forming an opinion or making a
decision
Critical thinking is reflective &
reasonable thinking that is focused on
deciding what to believe or do.
MORE CLEAR, MORE ACCURATE,
OR MORE DEFENSIBLE
CRITICAL THINKING A
BLEND OF 5 MODES OF
THINKING
Total recall
Habits
Inquiry
New ideas & creativity
Knowing how you think.
Critical Thinking and
Nursing Judgment
Good problem
solving skills
Not always a
clear textbook
answer
Nurse must
learn to
question, look
at alternatives


IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL
THINKING
Critical thinking helps the
nurse find options for solving
client care problems
By critical thinking they can
plan, implement & evaluate
quality care
Contd..
It helps the nurses choose
solutions in the different client
care situations or identify
options from which to choose.
It is used for effective, creative
& efficient nursing care
because of growing complexity
of health care demands.

How do nurse's accomplish
this?
Learns to be flexible in clinical
decision making
Reflect on past experiences
and previous knowledge
Listen to others point of view
Identify the nature of the
problem
Select the best solution for
improving clients health


Critical Thinking in Nursing
Purposeful, outcome-directed
Essential to safe, competent,
skillful nursing practice
Based on principles of nursing
process and the scientific
method
Requires specific knowledge,
skills, and experience
New nurses must question
Critical Thinking in Nursing
Guided by professional
standards and ethic codes
Requires strategies that
maximize potential and
compensate for problems
Constantly reevaluating, self-
correcting, and striving to
improve
Formula for Critical Thinking
Start Thinking

Why Ask Why

Ask the Right Questions

Are you an expert?
Aspects of Critical Thinking
Reflection

Language

Intuition
Levels of Critical Thinking
Basic

Complex

Commitment

COMPETENCIES, ATTITUDES FOR
CRITICAL THINKING
Critical thinking includes attitudes as
well as cognitive skills.
Richard paul (1990) referred critical
thinking attitude as traits of mind.
They motivate/encourage and justify
the use of cognitive skills.
A critical thinker makes the use of
effective attitudes while thinking
about what to believe or how to
perform.
Critical Thinking
Competencies
Scientific method
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Diagnostic Reasoning and
Inferences
Clinical Decision Making
Nursing Process
AFFECTIVE
ATTITUDE
INTELLECTUAL
HUMILITY
INTELLECTUAL
COURAGE
INTELLECTUAL
EMPATHY
INTELLECTUAL
INTEGRITY
INTELLECTUAL
PERSEVERANCE
FAITH IN
REASON
INTELLECTUAL
SENSE OF
JUSTICE
COGNITIVE
THINKING
SKILL
DIVERGENT
THINKING
REASONING
REFLECTION
CREATIVITY
CLARIFICATI
ON
BASIC
SUPPORT
Developing Critical Thinking
Attitudes/Skills
Not easy
Not either or
Self-assessment
Tolerating dissonance and
ambiguity
Seeking situations where good
thinking practiced
Creating environments that
support critical thinking
Attitudes That Foster
Critical Thinking
Independence
Fair-mindedness
Insight into ethnocentricity
Intellectual humility
Intellectual courage to challenge
status quo
Integrity
Preserverance
Confidence
Curiosity