NUR 205 Exam 1 Study Guide:
Critical Thinking in Nursing Care
• What is critical thinking? What does it mean to think critically about something?
Critical thinking is a continuous process characterized by open-mindedness, continual
inquiry, and perseverance, combined with a willingness to look at each unique patient
situation and determine which identified assumptions are true and relevant. A critical
thinker considers what is important in each clinical situation, imagines and explores
alternatives, considers ethical principles and makes informed decisions about the care of
patients.
• A nurse who practices critical thinking reminds one of a three-year-old child who wants
to know and understand the reason for everything. Their favorite word is “why?” Be
able to pick the “why?” out of a group of responses.
What are my options? What am I missing? What do I really know about this patient’s
situation?
• Why is critical thinking important for the nurse?
Clinical decision making separates professional nurses from technical personnel. Clinical
decision making is a judgment that includes critical and reflective thinking and action and
application of scientific and practical logic. A professional nurse observes for changes in
patients, recognizes potential problems, identifies new problems as they arise, and takes
immediate action when a patient’s clinical condition worsens.
4) A critically thinking nurse always gathers his/her own information, rather than only
relying on the observations of others. Know that critical thinking means that it is critical
that we think before we act.
5) What is meant by self-reflection? How does this apply to nursing care?
Reflection is the process of purposefully thinking back or recalling a situation to discover
its purpose or meaning. It involves playing back a situation in your head and taking time to
honestly review everything you remember about it. It’s a conscious process of thinking,
analyzing, and learning from your work situations by way of journaling or regularly meeting
with colleagues to explore work situations and self-evaluate.
6) What is a concept map? How does this differ from a geographic map
Concept map – a visual representation of patient problems and interventions that shows
their relationships to one another. This map offers a nonlinear picture of a patient that can be
used for comprehensive care planning. Purpose is to better synthesize relevant data about a
patient, including health assessment data, nursing diagnosis, health needs, nursing interventions,
and evaluation measures.
The advantage of a concept map is its central focus on the patient rather than the
patient’s disease or health alteration. Also promotes patient participation with the eventual
plan of care.
7) What are the components of critical thinking in nursing?
1. Specific knowledge base in nursing
2. Experience
3. Critical Thinking Competencies
• General critical thinking
• Scientific Method
• Identifying the problem
• Collecting data
• Formulating a question or hypothesis
• Testing the question and hypothesis
• Evaluating results of the test or study
Critical Thinking in Nursing Care
• What is critical thinking? What does it mean to think critically about something?
Critical thinking is a continuous process characterized by open-mindedness, continual
inquiry, and perseverance, combined with a willingness to look at each unique patient
situation and determine which identified assumptions are true and relevant. A critical
thinker considers what is important in each clinical situation, imagines and explores
alternatives, considers ethical principles and makes informed decisions about the care of
patients.
• A nurse who practices critical thinking reminds one of a three-year-old child who wants
to know and understand the reason for everything. Their favorite word is “why?” Be
able to pick the “why?” out of a group of responses.
What are my options? What am I missing? What do I really know about this patient’s
situation?
• Why is critical thinking important for the nurse?
Clinical decision making separates professional nurses from technical personnel. Clinical
decision making is a judgment that includes critical and reflective thinking and action and
application of scientific and practical logic. A professional nurse observes for changes in
patients, recognizes potential problems, identifies new problems as they arise, and takes
immediate action when a patient’s clinical condition worsens.
4) A critically thinking nurse always gathers his/her own information, rather than only
relying on the observations of others. Know that critical thinking means that it is critical
that we think before we act.
5) What is meant by self-reflection? How does this apply to nursing care?
Reflection is the process of purposefully thinking back or recalling a situation to discover
its purpose or meaning. It involves playing back a situation in your head and taking time to
honestly review everything you remember about it. It’s a conscious process of thinking,
analyzing, and learning from your work situations by way of journaling or regularly meeting
with colleagues to explore work situations and self-evaluate.
6) What is a concept map? How does this differ from a geographic map
Concept map – a visual representation of patient problems and interventions that shows
their relationships to one another. This map offers a nonlinear picture of a patient that can be
used for comprehensive care planning. Purpose is to better synthesize relevant data about a
patient, including health assessment data, nursing diagnosis, health needs, nursing interventions,
and evaluation measures.
The advantage of a concept map is its central focus on the patient rather than the
patient’s disease or health alteration. Also promotes patient participation with the eventual
plan of care.
7) What are the components of critical thinking in nursing?
1. Specific knowledge base in nursing
2. Experience
3. Critical Thinking Competencies
• General critical thinking
• Scientific Method
• Identifying the problem
• Collecting data
• Formulating a question or hypothesis
• Testing the question and hypothesis
• Evaluating results of the test or study
