ATI CRITICAL THINKING 2 2026 EXAM PREP
STUDY GUIDE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
◉ Basic CT. Answer: Trust the experts
Results from limited knowledge and experience and inadequate CT
experience.
◉ Complex CT. Answer: Beginning to express autonomy by analyzing
and examining data
Results from an increase in nursing knowledge, experience,
intuition, and more flexible attitudes.
◉ Commitment CT. Answer: the nurse expects to make choices
without the help from others and fully assumes responsibility for
those choices.
Results from expert level of knowledge, experience, developed
intuition and reflective, flexible attitudes.
◉ Knowledge component of CT. Answer: info specific for nursing
Basic nursing education
Continuing Education
Advanced degrees and certifications
, ◉ Experience component of CT. Answer: Decision-making ability
derived from opportunities to observe, sense, and interact with
clients followed by active reflection.
Understand clinical situations
Recognizes and analyze cues for relevance
Incorporates experience into intuition
◉ Competence component of CT. Answer: Cognitive processes a
nurse uses to make nursing judgements.
◉ Name CT Skills used in Assessment/Data Collection. Answer:
Observe
Use correct technique
Differentiate between relevant and irrelevant data
Organize, validate, categorize data
Interpret assessment data and draw a conclusion
Purpose-identify needs and identify additional data to collect based
on findings.
◉ CT Skills used in Analysis/Data Collection (Diagnose). Answer:
Identify clusters and cues
Detect inferences
Recognize an actual or potential problem or risk
STUDY GUIDE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
◉ Basic CT. Answer: Trust the experts
Results from limited knowledge and experience and inadequate CT
experience.
◉ Complex CT. Answer: Beginning to express autonomy by analyzing
and examining data
Results from an increase in nursing knowledge, experience,
intuition, and more flexible attitudes.
◉ Commitment CT. Answer: the nurse expects to make choices
without the help from others and fully assumes responsibility for
those choices.
Results from expert level of knowledge, experience, developed
intuition and reflective, flexible attitudes.
◉ Knowledge component of CT. Answer: info specific for nursing
Basic nursing education
Continuing Education
Advanced degrees and certifications
, ◉ Experience component of CT. Answer: Decision-making ability
derived from opportunities to observe, sense, and interact with
clients followed by active reflection.
Understand clinical situations
Recognizes and analyze cues for relevance
Incorporates experience into intuition
◉ Competence component of CT. Answer: Cognitive processes a
nurse uses to make nursing judgements.
◉ Name CT Skills used in Assessment/Data Collection. Answer:
Observe
Use correct technique
Differentiate between relevant and irrelevant data
Organize, validate, categorize data
Interpret assessment data and draw a conclusion
Purpose-identify needs and identify additional data to collect based
on findings.
◉ CT Skills used in Analysis/Data Collection (Diagnose). Answer:
Identify clusters and cues
Detect inferences
Recognize an actual or potential problem or risk
