Chapter 2: Critical Thinking and Nursing Process
I. Key Concept: critical thinking + nursing knowledge + nursing process = full spectrum
nursing
II. nursing involves thinking, doing, and caring.
III. Critical thinking helps you know what is important about each patient’s situation, when
you need more information , and when you need help to make the best decision
A. Critical thinking: “the art of thinking about your thinking while you are thinking
in order to make your thinking better: more clear, more accurate, or more
defensible” (Paul, 1990).
B. Critical thinking is a combination of reasoned thinking, openness to alternatives,
an ability to reflect, and a desire to seek truth.
C. Critical Thinking Skills
1. Objectively gathering information on a problem or issue
2. Recognizing the need for more information
3. ■ Evaluating the credibility and usefulness of sources of information
4. ■ Recognizing gaps in one’s own knowledge
5. Listening carefully; reading thoughtfully
6. ■ Separating relevant from irrelevant data and important from unimportant
data
7. ■ Organizing or grouping information in meaningful ways
8. ■ Making inferences (tentative conclusions) about the meaning of the
information
9. ■ Visualizing potential solutions to a problem
10. ■ Exploring the advantages, disadvantages, and consequences of each
potential action
D. Critical Thinking Attitudes
1. Independent thinking (do not accept or reject an idea until you understand
it)
2. Intellectual curiosity(be curious and question)
3. Intellectual humility (be humble and ask for help)
4. Intellectual empathy (understand the perception of others)
5. Intellectual courage (stand up for your own beliefs and values)
6. Intellectual perseverance (put in the effort and time to find the proper
answer)
7. Fair-mindedness (treat all viewpoints equally)
IV. Complex Thinking Process
A. Problem Solving: identifying a problem and finding a reasonable solution to it
B. Decision Making: Chosing the best action to take
C. Clinical Reasoning: Reflective concurrent, creative thinking about patients and
patient care
I. Key Concept: critical thinking + nursing knowledge + nursing process = full spectrum
nursing
II. nursing involves thinking, doing, and caring.
III. Critical thinking helps you know what is important about each patient’s situation, when
you need more information , and when you need help to make the best decision
A. Critical thinking: “the art of thinking about your thinking while you are thinking
in order to make your thinking better: more clear, more accurate, or more
defensible” (Paul, 1990).
B. Critical thinking is a combination of reasoned thinking, openness to alternatives,
an ability to reflect, and a desire to seek truth.
C. Critical Thinking Skills
1. Objectively gathering information on a problem or issue
2. Recognizing the need for more information
3. ■ Evaluating the credibility and usefulness of sources of information
4. ■ Recognizing gaps in one’s own knowledge
5. Listening carefully; reading thoughtfully
6. ■ Separating relevant from irrelevant data and important from unimportant
data
7. ■ Organizing or grouping information in meaningful ways
8. ■ Making inferences (tentative conclusions) about the meaning of the
information
9. ■ Visualizing potential solutions to a problem
10. ■ Exploring the advantages, disadvantages, and consequences of each
potential action
D. Critical Thinking Attitudes
1. Independent thinking (do not accept or reject an idea until you understand
it)
2. Intellectual curiosity(be curious and question)
3. Intellectual humility (be humble and ask for help)
4. Intellectual empathy (understand the perception of others)
5. Intellectual courage (stand up for your own beliefs and values)
6. Intellectual perseverance (put in the effort and time to find the proper
answer)
7. Fair-mindedness (treat all viewpoints equally)
IV. Complex Thinking Process
A. Problem Solving: identifying a problem and finding a reasonable solution to it
B. Decision Making: Chosing the best action to take
C. Clinical Reasoning: Reflective concurrent, creative thinking about patients and
patient care
