CRITICAL THINKING ENTRANCE 40 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND LOGIC EXPLANATIONS 2026
◉ factors that influence "Noticing". Answer: -intrapersonal
characteristics of the nurse
-theoretical and experiential knowledge of the nurse
-knowing the patient
-context or environment of care
◉ Narrative reasoning. Answer: Situation to patient experience with
illness.
◉ Interpreting (tanners). Answer: comparing and contrast data,
clustering related information, recognizing inconsistencies, checking
accuracy, distinguishing relevant from irrelevant, determine
importance of info, judge how much ambiguity is acceptable (ie b/p
dt condition), determine legal ethical professional guidelines,
(predicting and) *managing potential complications
◉ Noticing. Answer: 1. Identify signs and symptoms
2. Complete and accurate date
3. Assessing systemically and comprehensively
4. Predicting and managing patient complications
,5. Identifying assumptions
◉ analytic reasoning (interpreting). Answer: based on theoretical
knowledge. nurse makes a hypothesis or best guess about the pt
care situation and then tests. typically students and novice nurses
◉ Interpreting. Answer: Understanding of the situation
◉ intuitive reasoning (interpreting). Answer: based on unstated but
understood knowledge about the pt, the care giving context, and
their previous experiences. typically expert nurse.
◉ Responding. Answer: Based on what you interpreted the nurse
will determine appropriate actions
◉ narrative reasoning (interpreting). Answer: way of making sense
of a situation through telling and interpreting stories. nurse hears pt
stories of past medical experiences, helps nurse understand specific
pt experiences, setting the stage for individualized care
◉ Reflection in action. Answer: Observing patient reaction to the
action the nurse chose and deciding if the situation was fixed
, ◉ responding (tanners). Answer: taking action, ability to carry out
nursing skills and effective communication, delegating, setting
priorities
◉ Reflection on action. Answer: Patient responses to the outcomes.
Nursing refelection after the situation was solved
◉ reflecting (tanners). Answer: pt outcomes, evaluating data-
complete actions then reassessment data is collected again used to
determine if interventions were effective or any further actions
needed, evaluating and correcting thinking.
◉ Novice nurse. Answer: Uses analytic reasoning. Uses textbook in a
systemic analysis of a situation
◉ reflecting-in-action (reflect). Answer: understanding of patients
response to nursing actions while care is occurring. "real time"
during pt care. determine pt statues and adjust care accordingly.
◉ Expert nurse. Answer: Uses intuitive reasoing. Recognizes
patterns immediatly. Able to look at the big picture
◉ reflecting-on-action (reflect). Answer: consideration of situation
after the care occurs. contemplate a situation and decide what was
and wasn't successful. critical for development of knowledge.
QUESTIONS AND LOGIC EXPLANATIONS 2026
◉ factors that influence "Noticing". Answer: -intrapersonal
characteristics of the nurse
-theoretical and experiential knowledge of the nurse
-knowing the patient
-context or environment of care
◉ Narrative reasoning. Answer: Situation to patient experience with
illness.
◉ Interpreting (tanners). Answer: comparing and contrast data,
clustering related information, recognizing inconsistencies, checking
accuracy, distinguishing relevant from irrelevant, determine
importance of info, judge how much ambiguity is acceptable (ie b/p
dt condition), determine legal ethical professional guidelines,
(predicting and) *managing potential complications
◉ Noticing. Answer: 1. Identify signs and symptoms
2. Complete and accurate date
3. Assessing systemically and comprehensively
4. Predicting and managing patient complications
,5. Identifying assumptions
◉ analytic reasoning (interpreting). Answer: based on theoretical
knowledge. nurse makes a hypothesis or best guess about the pt
care situation and then tests. typically students and novice nurses
◉ Interpreting. Answer: Understanding of the situation
◉ intuitive reasoning (interpreting). Answer: based on unstated but
understood knowledge about the pt, the care giving context, and
their previous experiences. typically expert nurse.
◉ Responding. Answer: Based on what you interpreted the nurse
will determine appropriate actions
◉ narrative reasoning (interpreting). Answer: way of making sense
of a situation through telling and interpreting stories. nurse hears pt
stories of past medical experiences, helps nurse understand specific
pt experiences, setting the stage for individualized care
◉ Reflection in action. Answer: Observing patient reaction to the
action the nurse chose and deciding if the situation was fixed
, ◉ responding (tanners). Answer: taking action, ability to carry out
nursing skills and effective communication, delegating, setting
priorities
◉ Reflection on action. Answer: Patient responses to the outcomes.
Nursing refelection after the situation was solved
◉ reflecting (tanners). Answer: pt outcomes, evaluating data-
complete actions then reassessment data is collected again used to
determine if interventions were effective or any further actions
needed, evaluating and correcting thinking.
◉ Novice nurse. Answer: Uses analytic reasoning. Uses textbook in a
systemic analysis of a situation
◉ reflecting-in-action (reflect). Answer: understanding of patients
response to nursing actions while care is occurring. "real time"
during pt care. determine pt statues and adjust care accordingly.
◉ Expert nurse. Answer: Uses intuitive reasoing. Recognizes
patterns immediatly. Able to look at the big picture
◉ reflecting-on-action (reflect). Answer: consideration of situation
after the care occurs. contemplate a situation and decide what was
and wasn't successful. critical for development of knowledge.
