NR 545 EXAM 1 PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS
WITH DETAILED SOLVED ANSWERS
●● characteristics of critical thinking
Answer: -open-mindedness
-continual inquiry
-perseverance
-willingness to look at each unique patient situation and determine
which identified assumptions are true and relevant
●● clinical decision making
Answer: -Requires careful reasoning (i.e., choosing the options for the
best patient outcomes on the basis of a patient's condition and the
priority of the problem).
-Skilled clinical decision making occurs through knowing the patient.
-It has two components: a nurse's understanding of a specific patient and
his or her subsequent selection of interventions.
●● critical thinking model
Answer: Combines a nurse's knowledge base, experience, competence in
the nursing process, attitudes, and standards to explain how nurses make
clinical judgments that are necessary for safe, effective nursing care.
,●● Basic level
Answer: -level 1
-is an early step in developing reasoning.
-thinker learns to accept the diverse opinions and values of experts (e.g.,
instructors and staff nurse preceptors).
-however, inexperience, weak competencies, and inflexible attitudes
restrict a person's ability to move to the next level of critical thinking.
●● Complex level
Answer: -level 2
-each solution has benefits and risks that you weigh before making a
final decision. There are options.
-Thinking becomes more creative and innovative.
-is willing to consider different options from routine procedures when
complex situations develop. You learn to gather additional information
and take a variety of different approaches for the same therapy.
●● Commitment level
Answer: -level 3
-you anticipate when to make choices without assistance from others and
accept accountability for decisions made.
-as a nurse you do more than just consider the complex alternatives that
a problem poses.
,-at the commitment level you choose an action or belief that is based on
the available alternatives and support it.
●● what is needed first before anything else?
Answer:
●● interpretation
Answer: Be orderly in collecting data about patients. Apply reasoning
while looking for patterns to emerge. Categorize the data. Gather
additional data or clarify any data about which you are uncertain.
●● analysis
Answer: Be open-minded as you look at information about a patient. Do
not make careless assumptions. Does the data reveal a problem or trend
that you believe is true, or are there other options?
●● inference
Answer: Look at the meaning and significance of findings. Are there
relationships among findings? Does the data about the patient help you
see that a problem exists?
●● evaluation
, Answer: Look at all situations objectively. Use criteria (e.g., expected
outcomes, pain characteristics, learning objectives) to determine results
of nursing actions. Reflect on your own behavior.
●● explanation
Answer: Support your findings and conclusions. Use knowledge and
experience to choose strategies to use in the care of patients.
●● self-regulation
Answer: Reflect on your experiences. Be responsible for connecting
your actions with outcomes. Identify the ways you can improve your
own performance. What will make you believe that you have been
successful?
●● confidence
Answer: Learn how to introduce yourself to a patient; speak with
conviction when you begin a treatment or procedure. Do not lead a
patient to think that you are unable to perform care safely. Always be
well prepared before performing a nursing activity. Encourage a patient
to ask questions.
●● independence
Answer: Read the nursing literature, especially when there are different
views on the same subject. Talk with other nurses and share ideas about
nursing interventions.
WITH DETAILED SOLVED ANSWERS
●● characteristics of critical thinking
Answer: -open-mindedness
-continual inquiry
-perseverance
-willingness to look at each unique patient situation and determine
which identified assumptions are true and relevant
●● clinical decision making
Answer: -Requires careful reasoning (i.e., choosing the options for the
best patient outcomes on the basis of a patient's condition and the
priority of the problem).
-Skilled clinical decision making occurs through knowing the patient.
-It has two components: a nurse's understanding of a specific patient and
his or her subsequent selection of interventions.
●● critical thinking model
Answer: Combines a nurse's knowledge base, experience, competence in
the nursing process, attitudes, and standards to explain how nurses make
clinical judgments that are necessary for safe, effective nursing care.
,●● Basic level
Answer: -level 1
-is an early step in developing reasoning.
-thinker learns to accept the diverse opinions and values of experts (e.g.,
instructors and staff nurse preceptors).
-however, inexperience, weak competencies, and inflexible attitudes
restrict a person's ability to move to the next level of critical thinking.
●● Complex level
Answer: -level 2
-each solution has benefits and risks that you weigh before making a
final decision. There are options.
-Thinking becomes more creative and innovative.
-is willing to consider different options from routine procedures when
complex situations develop. You learn to gather additional information
and take a variety of different approaches for the same therapy.
●● Commitment level
Answer: -level 3
-you anticipate when to make choices without assistance from others and
accept accountability for decisions made.
-as a nurse you do more than just consider the complex alternatives that
a problem poses.
,-at the commitment level you choose an action or belief that is based on
the available alternatives and support it.
●● what is needed first before anything else?
Answer:
●● interpretation
Answer: Be orderly in collecting data about patients. Apply reasoning
while looking for patterns to emerge. Categorize the data. Gather
additional data or clarify any data about which you are uncertain.
●● analysis
Answer: Be open-minded as you look at information about a patient. Do
not make careless assumptions. Does the data reveal a problem or trend
that you believe is true, or are there other options?
●● inference
Answer: Look at the meaning and significance of findings. Are there
relationships among findings? Does the data about the patient help you
see that a problem exists?
●● evaluation
, Answer: Look at all situations objectively. Use criteria (e.g., expected
outcomes, pain characteristics, learning objectives) to determine results
of nursing actions. Reflect on your own behavior.
●● explanation
Answer: Support your findings and conclusions. Use knowledge and
experience to choose strategies to use in the care of patients.
●● self-regulation
Answer: Reflect on your experiences. Be responsible for connecting
your actions with outcomes. Identify the ways you can improve your
own performance. What will make you believe that you have been
successful?
●● confidence
Answer: Learn how to introduce yourself to a patient; speak with
conviction when you begin a treatment or procedure. Do not lead a
patient to think that you are unable to perform care safely. Always be
well prepared before performing a nursing activity. Encourage a patient
to ask questions.
●● independence
Answer: Read the nursing literature, especially when there are different
views on the same subject. Talk with other nurses and share ideas about
nursing interventions.
