FUNDAMENTALS: CHAPTER 15: CRITICAL
THINKING IN NURSING PRACTICE AND
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION VERIFIED
RATIONALE GRADED A+
1. Which action should the nurse take when using critical thinking to make clinical decisions?
a. Make decisions based on intuition.
b. Accept one established way to provide care.
c. Consider what is important in a given situation.
d. Read and follow the heath care provider's orders. - ansANS: C
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.
Patient care can be provided in many ways. The use of evidence-based knowledge, or knowledge based
on research or clinical expertise, makes you an informed critical thinker. Following health care provider's
orders is not considered a critical thinking skill. If your knowledge causes you to question a health care
provider's order, do so.
1. Which findings will alert the nurse that stress is present when making a clinical decision? (Select all
that apply.)
a. Tense muscles
b. Reactive responses
c. Trouble concentrating
d. Very tired feelings
e. Managed emotions - ansANS: A, B, C, D
Learn to recognize when you are feeling stressed—your muscles will tense, you become reactive when
others communicate with you, you have trouble concentrating, and you feel very tired. Emotions are not
managed when stressed.
10. The patient appears to be in no apparent distress, but vital signs taken by assistive personnel reveal
an extremely low pulse. The nurse then auscultates an apical pulse and asks the patient whether there is
any history of heart problems. The nurse is utilizing which critical thinking skill?
a. Evaluation
b. Explanation
, FUNDAMENTALS: CHAPTER 15: CRITICAL
THINKING IN NURSING PRACTICE AND
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION VERIFIED
RATIONALE GRADED A+
c. Interpretation
d. Self-regulation - ansANS: C
Interpretation involves being orderly in data collection, looking for patterns to categorize data, and
clarifying uncertain data. This nurse is clarifying the data in this situation. Evaluation involves
determining the effectiveness of interventions or care provided. The nurse in this scenario is assessing
the patient, not evaluating interventions. Self-regulation is reflecting on experiences. Explanation is
supporting findings and conclusions. The nurse in this question is clarifying uncertain data (determining
cause of the low pulse), not supporting the finding of a low pulse.
11. A patient continues to report postsurgical incision pain at a level of 9 out of 10 after pain medicine is
given. The next dose of pain medicine is not due for another hour. What should the critically thinking
nurse do first?
a. Explore other options for pain relief.
b. Discuss the surgical procedure and reason for the pain.
c. Explain to the patient that nothing else has been ordered.
d. Offer to notify the health care provider after morning rounds are completed. - ansANS: A
The critically thinking nurse should explore all options for pain relief first. The nurse should use critical
thinking to determine the cause of the pain and determine various options for pain, not just ordered
pain medications. The nurse can act independently to determine all options for pain relief and does not
have to wait until after the health care provider rounds are completed. Explaining the cause of the pain
does not address options for pain relief.
12. Which action should the nurse take to best develop critical thinking skills?
a. Study 3 hours more each night.
b. Attend all inservice opportunities.
c. Actively participate in clinical experiences.
d. Interview staff nurses about their nursing experiences. - ansANS: C
Nursing is a practice discipline. Clinical learning experiences are necessary to acquire clinical decision-
making skills. Studying for longer hours, interviewing nurses, and attending inservices do not provide
opportunities for clinical decision making, as do actual clinical experiences.
THINKING IN NURSING PRACTICE AND
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION VERIFIED
RATIONALE GRADED A+
1. Which action should the nurse take when using critical thinking to make clinical decisions?
a. Make decisions based on intuition.
b. Accept one established way to provide care.
c. Consider what is important in a given situation.
d. Read and follow the heath care provider's orders. - ansANS: C
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.
Patient care can be provided in many ways. The use of evidence-based knowledge, or knowledge based
on research or clinical expertise, makes you an informed critical thinker. Following health care provider's
orders is not considered a critical thinking skill. If your knowledge causes you to question a health care
provider's order, do so.
1. Which findings will alert the nurse that stress is present when making a clinical decision? (Select all
that apply.)
a. Tense muscles
b. Reactive responses
c. Trouble concentrating
d. Very tired feelings
e. Managed emotions - ansANS: A, B, C, D
Learn to recognize when you are feeling stressed—your muscles will tense, you become reactive when
others communicate with you, you have trouble concentrating, and you feel very tired. Emotions are not
managed when stressed.
10. The patient appears to be in no apparent distress, but vital signs taken by assistive personnel reveal
an extremely low pulse. The nurse then auscultates an apical pulse and asks the patient whether there is
any history of heart problems. The nurse is utilizing which critical thinking skill?
a. Evaluation
b. Explanation
, FUNDAMENTALS: CHAPTER 15: CRITICAL
THINKING IN NURSING PRACTICE AND
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION VERIFIED
RATIONALE GRADED A+
c. Interpretation
d. Self-regulation - ansANS: C
Interpretation involves being orderly in data collection, looking for patterns to categorize data, and
clarifying uncertain data. This nurse is clarifying the data in this situation. Evaluation involves
determining the effectiveness of interventions or care provided. The nurse in this scenario is assessing
the patient, not evaluating interventions. Self-regulation is reflecting on experiences. Explanation is
supporting findings and conclusions. The nurse in this question is clarifying uncertain data (determining
cause of the low pulse), not supporting the finding of a low pulse.
11. A patient continues to report postsurgical incision pain at a level of 9 out of 10 after pain medicine is
given. The next dose of pain medicine is not due for another hour. What should the critically thinking
nurse do first?
a. Explore other options for pain relief.
b. Discuss the surgical procedure and reason for the pain.
c. Explain to the patient that nothing else has been ordered.
d. Offer to notify the health care provider after morning rounds are completed. - ansANS: A
The critically thinking nurse should explore all options for pain relief first. The nurse should use critical
thinking to determine the cause of the pain and determine various options for pain, not just ordered
pain medications. The nurse can act independently to determine all options for pain relief and does not
have to wait until after the health care provider rounds are completed. Explaining the cause of the pain
does not address options for pain relief.
12. Which action should the nurse take to best develop critical thinking skills?
a. Study 3 hours more each night.
b. Attend all inservice opportunities.
c. Actively participate in clinical experiences.
d. Interview staff nurses about their nursing experiences. - ansANS: C
Nursing is a practice discipline. Clinical learning experiences are necessary to acquire clinical decision-
making skills. Studying for longer hours, interviewing nurses, and attending inservices do not provide
opportunities for clinical decision making, as do actual clinical experiences.
