Clinical Judgment 7th Edition by Rosalinda Alfaro-
LeFevre
What is Critical Thinking? - ANSWER: Combination of:
1.Reasoned thinking
2.Openness to alternatives
3.Ability to reflect:self assessment
4.A desire to seek the truth and creativity
Reacting by reasoning, interpreting data, problem solving which involves thinking
creatively.
Observe, decide what is important, look for patterns, identify the problem, apply
knowledge, evaluate according to criteria
What is Problem Solving - ANSWER: systematic approach to a problem resulting in a
formulation of solutions.
What is Clinical Judgement
(Involves problem solving, decision making, and critical thinking) - ANSWER: ability
to safely and competently care for clients, "the process by which the nurse decides
on data to be collected about a client, makes an interpretation of the data, arrives at
a nursing diagnosis and identifies appropriate nursing actions
What are skills of a critical thinker? - ANSWER: Skills:
1. Objectively gather info
2. Recognize need for more
3. Evaluate credibility
4. Recognize Gaps
5. Listen Carefully
6. Separate data
7. Group Information
8. Make Inferences
9. Visualize potential solutions
10. Explore Consequences of actions
What are the standards of critical thinking? - ANSWER: Clarity
Accuracy
Precision
Relevance
Depth
Breadth
Logic
Significance
Fairness
,Maturity
What is Clarity - ANSWER: Thinking clearly is central to understanding
(Abbreviations may lead to error)
What is Accuracy - ANSWER: Using reliable sources, evidence-based practice,
accuracy of interpretation. (Correct medical calculations, decimal point)
What is Precision - ANSWER: Exactness, need for details
(using patient identifiers)
What is relevance? - ANSWER: Discriminate between pertinent and non-pertinent
(Which patient symptoms/observations are important and which are not)
What is Depth? - ANSWER: Perceive the complexities and visualize relationships.
Ex. Using FORM model, care for patient as a person
F - Family
O - Occupation
R - Recreation
M - Message (more willing to listen)
What is Breadth? - ANSWER: Thinking from several different points of view
Ex. End of life decisions
What is Logic? - ANSWER: Does it make sense? Assumptions must be valid,
conclusions based on evidence, procedures performed in a logical order.
Ex. Caring for the most critical patient first
What is Significance? - ANSWER: is the information critical to the situation? Which
facts are most important?
Ex. Assessing whether a patients type of pain is related to a more severe problem
What is Fairness? - ANSWER: - Open to other ideas or information, listening
Ex. Considering the ideas of other healthcare professionals when caring for a patient
What is Bias? - ANSWER: compromise the integrity of the thinking process
Ex. Assuming a patient demanding pain medication is an addict
** note - unsure why bias is listed as a critical thinking standard & pitfall
What is Maturity? - ANSWER: Develops over time, focusing on client
Ex. Providing the same care for a patient who is rude to you
What are the pitfalls in critical thinking? - ANSWER: Illogical Process - circular logic,
"it's true because it is so"
Appeal to Tradition - doing it the way it's always been done
Hasty Generalization - Generalizing without considering all of the evidence
Bias - can cause errors in care
, Closed-Mindedness - limits care
The critical thinker does not jump to conclusions
What are the attitudes of a critical thinker? - ANSWER: Attitudes:
1. Independent thinking
2. Intellectual curiosity
3. Intellectual humility
4. Intellectual empathy
5. Intellectual courage
6. Intellectual perseverance
7. Fair-mindedness
Why is critical thinking important? - ANSWER: 1.Nurses apply knowledge to provide
holistic care
2. Nursing is an applied discipline
3. Nursing uses knowledge from other fields
4. Nursing is fast-paced
Differentiate the 4 kinds of nursing knowledge - ANSWER: 1. Theoretical knowledge-
consists of information, facts, principles, and evidence based theories in nursing and
related disciplines
2. Practical knowledge - knowing what to do and how to do it
3. Self knowledge - own beliefs
4. Ethical knowledge- of obligation, and right and wrong
Describe nursing responsibilities during the Nursing Process - ANSWER: To provide
goal-directed, client centered care to move client toward wellness.
How is Critical Thinking used in the Nursing Process? - ANSWER: Nursing is a problem
solving process that uses many individual critical thinking skills
What are the main concepts of full spectrum nursing? - ANSWER: Unique blend of
thinking, doing, and caring. Performed by nurses who fully develop and apply nursing
knowledge, critical thinking and the nursing process to patient situations for the
purpose of good outcomes
Phases of the Nursing Process - ANSWER: 1. Assessment
2. Diagnosis
3. Planning Outcomes
4. Planning Interventions
5. Implementation
6. Evaluation
Nursing Process - ANSWER: serves as the organizational framework for the practice
of nursing.
systematic method by which nurses plan and provide care for patients