, Critical Thinking Clinical Reasoning and Clinical Judgment 7th Edition A Practical
Approach Test Bank
Chapter 1. What are Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning, and Clinical Judgment?
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Which of the following characteristics do the various definitions of critical thinking
have in common? Critical thinking
1)
Requires reasoned thought
2)
Asks the questions why? or how
? 3)
Is a hierarchical process
4)
Demands specialized thinking skills A
NS: 1
The definitions listed in the text as well as definitions in Box 2-
1 state that critical thinking requires reasoning or reasoned thinking. Critical thinking is neit
her linear nor hierarchical. That means that the steps involved in critical thinking are not ne
cessarily sequential, where mastery of one step is necessary to proceed to the next. Critical
thinking is a purposeful, dynamic, analytic process that contributes to reasoned decisions an
d sound contextual judgments.
PTS:1DIF:Moderate high-level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Analysis
2. A few nurses on a unit have proposed to the nurse manager that the process for do
cumenting care on the unit be changed. They have described a completely new system. Why
is it important for the nurse manager to have a critical attitude? It will help the manager t
o
1)
Consider all the possible advantages and disadvantage
s 2)
Maintain an open mind about the proposed chang
e 3)
Apply the nursing process to the situatio
n 4)
Make a decision based on past experience with documentation
ANS: 2
A critical attitude enables the person to think fairly and keep an open mind. PTS:
1DIF:ModerateKEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level:
Comprehension
, 3. The nurse has just been assigned to the clinical care of a newly admitted patient.
To know how to best care for the patient, the nurse uses the nursing process. Which step
would the nurse probably do first?
1)
Assessment
2)
Diagnosis
3)
Plan outcome
s 4)
Plan intervention
s ANS: 1
Assessment is the first step of the nursing process. The nursing diagnosis is derived from the
data gathered during assessment, outcomes from the diagnosis, and interventions from the o
utcomes. PTS:1DIF:Easy
KEY: Nursing process: Assessment | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
4. Which of the following is an example of theoretical knowled
ge? 1)
A nurse uses sterile technique to catheterize a patien
t. 2)
Room air has an oxygen concentration of 21%
. 3)
Glucose monitoring machines should be calibrated daily
. 4)
An irregular apical heart rate should be compared with the radial pul
se. ANS: 2
Theoretical knowledge consists of research findings, facts, principles, and theories. The oxyg
en concentration of room air is a scientific fact. The others are examples of practical know
ledgewhat to do and how to do it.
PTS:1DIF:Moderate; high-level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
5. Which of the following is an example of practical knowledge? (Assume all are
true.) 1)
The tricuspid valve is between the right atrium and ventricle of the he
art. 2)
The pancreas does not produce enough insulin in type 1 diabet
es. 3)
When assessing the abdomen, you should auscultate before palpatin
g. 4)
Research shows pain medication given intravenously acts faster than by other route
s. ANS: 3
, Practical knowledge is knowing what to do and how to do it, such as how to do an assess
ment. The others are examples of theoretical knowledge, anatomy (tricuspid valve), fact (ty
pe 1 diabetes), and research (IV pain medication).
PTS:1DIF:Moderate high-level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
6. Which of the following is an example of self-
knowledge? The nurse thinks, I know that I 1)
Should take the clients apical pulse for 1 minute before giving digo
xin 2)
Should follow the clients wishes even though it is not what I would w
ant 3)
Have religious beliefs that may make it difficult to take care of some cli
ents 4)
Need to honor the clients request not to discuss his health concern with the family
ANS: 3
Self-
knowledge is being aware of your religious and cultural beliefs and values. Taking the pulse
is an example of practical knowledge. Following client wishes and honoring client requests
are examples of ethical knowledge.
PTS:1DIFifficult; high-level question, answer not stated verbatim | V1, high-
level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
7. Which of the following is the most important reason for nurses to be critical thin
kers? 1)
Nurses need to follow policies and procedures
. 2)
Nurses work with other healthcare team members
. 3)
Nurses care for clients who have multiple health problem
s. 4)
Nurses have to be flexible and work variable schedule
s. ANS: 3
Critical thinking is essential for client care, particularly when the care is complex, involving
numerous health issues. Following policies and procedures does not necessarily require critic
al thinking, and working with others or being flexible and working different schedules do n
ot necessarily require critical thinking.
PTS:1DIF:Moderate; high-level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
8. The nurse administering pain medication every 4 hours is an example of which asp
ect of patient care?
1)
Assessment dat
a 2)
Nursing diagnosis
Approach Test Bank
Chapter 1. What are Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning, and Clinical Judgment?
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Which of the following characteristics do the various definitions of critical thinking
have in common? Critical thinking
1)
Requires reasoned thought
2)
Asks the questions why? or how
? 3)
Is a hierarchical process
4)
Demands specialized thinking skills A
NS: 1
The definitions listed in the text as well as definitions in Box 2-
1 state that critical thinking requires reasoning or reasoned thinking. Critical thinking is neit
her linear nor hierarchical. That means that the steps involved in critical thinking are not ne
cessarily sequential, where mastery of one step is necessary to proceed to the next. Critical
thinking is a purposeful, dynamic, analytic process that contributes to reasoned decisions an
d sound contextual judgments.
PTS:1DIF:Moderate high-level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Analysis
2. A few nurses on a unit have proposed to the nurse manager that the process for do
cumenting care on the unit be changed. They have described a completely new system. Why
is it important for the nurse manager to have a critical attitude? It will help the manager t
o
1)
Consider all the possible advantages and disadvantage
s 2)
Maintain an open mind about the proposed chang
e 3)
Apply the nursing process to the situatio
n 4)
Make a decision based on past experience with documentation
ANS: 2
A critical attitude enables the person to think fairly and keep an open mind. PTS:
1DIF:ModerateKEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level:
Comprehension
, 3. The nurse has just been assigned to the clinical care of a newly admitted patient.
To know how to best care for the patient, the nurse uses the nursing process. Which step
would the nurse probably do first?
1)
Assessment
2)
Diagnosis
3)
Plan outcome
s 4)
Plan intervention
s ANS: 1
Assessment is the first step of the nursing process. The nursing diagnosis is derived from the
data gathered during assessment, outcomes from the diagnosis, and interventions from the o
utcomes. PTS:1DIF:Easy
KEY: Nursing process: Assessment | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
4. Which of the following is an example of theoretical knowled
ge? 1)
A nurse uses sterile technique to catheterize a patien
t. 2)
Room air has an oxygen concentration of 21%
. 3)
Glucose monitoring machines should be calibrated daily
. 4)
An irregular apical heart rate should be compared with the radial pul
se. ANS: 2
Theoretical knowledge consists of research findings, facts, principles, and theories. The oxyg
en concentration of room air is a scientific fact. The others are examples of practical know
ledgewhat to do and how to do it.
PTS:1DIF:Moderate; high-level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
5. Which of the following is an example of practical knowledge? (Assume all are
true.) 1)
The tricuspid valve is between the right atrium and ventricle of the he
art. 2)
The pancreas does not produce enough insulin in type 1 diabet
es. 3)
When assessing the abdomen, you should auscultate before palpatin
g. 4)
Research shows pain medication given intravenously acts faster than by other route
s. ANS: 3
, Practical knowledge is knowing what to do and how to do it, such as how to do an assess
ment. The others are examples of theoretical knowledge, anatomy (tricuspid valve), fact (ty
pe 1 diabetes), and research (IV pain medication).
PTS:1DIF:Moderate high-level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
6. Which of the following is an example of self-
knowledge? The nurse thinks, I know that I 1)
Should take the clients apical pulse for 1 minute before giving digo
xin 2)
Should follow the clients wishes even though it is not what I would w
ant 3)
Have religious beliefs that may make it difficult to take care of some cli
ents 4)
Need to honor the clients request not to discuss his health concern with the family
ANS: 3
Self-
knowledge is being aware of your religious and cultural beliefs and values. Taking the pulse
is an example of practical knowledge. Following client wishes and honoring client requests
are examples of ethical knowledge.
PTS:1DIFifficult; high-level question, answer not stated verbatim | V1, high-
level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
7. Which of the following is the most important reason for nurses to be critical thin
kers? 1)
Nurses need to follow policies and procedures
. 2)
Nurses work with other healthcare team members
. 3)
Nurses care for clients who have multiple health problem
s. 4)
Nurses have to be flexible and work variable schedule
s. ANS: 3
Critical thinking is essential for client care, particularly when the care is complex, involving
numerous health issues. Following policies and procedures does not necessarily require critic
al thinking, and working with others or being flexible and working different schedules do n
ot necessarily require critical thinking.
PTS:1DIF:Moderate; high-level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
8. The nurse administering pain medication every 4 hours is an example of which asp
ect of patient care?
1)
Assessment dat
a 2)
Nursing diagnosis
