NR 224 - Exam 1 Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025-2026
critical thinking - Answers the ability to think in a systematic and logical manner with openness to
question and reflect on the reasoning process
characteristics of critical thinking - Answers -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 - Answers -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 - Answers 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 - Answers -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 - Answers -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 - Answers -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? - Answers
interpretation - Answers 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 - Answers 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 - Answers 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 - Answers 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 - Answers Support your findings and conclusions. Use knowledge and experience to choose
strategies to use in the care of patients.
self-regulation - Answers 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 - Answers 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 - Answers Read the nursing literature, especially when there are different views on the
same subject. Talk with other nurses and share ideas about nursing interventions.
fairness - Answers Listen to both sides in any discussion. If a patient or family member complains about
a co-worker, listen to the story and speak with the co-worker as well. If a staff member labels a patient
uncooperative, assume the care of that patient with openness and a desire to meet the patient's needs.
, responsibility - Answers Ask for help if you are uncertain about how to perform a nursing skill. Refer to a
policy and procedure manual to review steps of a skill. Report any problems immediately. Follow
standards of practice in your care.
risk taking - Answers If your knowledge causes you to question a health care provider's order, do so. Be
willing to recommend alternative approaches to nursing care when colleagues are having little success
with patients.
discipline - Answers Be thorough in whatever you do. Use known scientific and practice-based criteria
for activities such as assessment and evaluation. Take time to be thorough and manage your time
effectively.
perservance - Answers Be cautious of an easy answer. If co-workers give you information about a
patient and some fact seems to be missing, clarify the information or talk to the patient directly. If
problems of the same type continue to occur on a nursing division, bring co-workers together, look for a
pattern, and find a solution.
creativity - Answers Look for different approaches if interventions are not working for a patient. For
example, a patient in pain may need a different positioning or distraction technique. When appropriate,
involve the patient's family in adapting your approaches to care methods used at home.
curiosity - Answers Always ask why. A clinical sign or symptom often indicates a variety of problems.
Explore and learn more about a patient so as to make appropriate clinical judgments.
integrity - Answers Recognize when your opinions conflict with those of a patient; review your position
and decide how best to proceed to reach outcomes that will satisfy everyone. Do not compromise
nursing standards or honesty in delivering nursing care.
humility - Answers Recognize when you need more information to make a decision. When you are new
to a clinical division, ask for an orientation to the area. Ask registered nurses (RNs) regularly assigned to
the area for assistance with approaches to care.
truth seeking - Answers Seek the true meaning of a situation. Be courageous, honest, and objective
about asking questions.
open-mindedness - Answers Be tolerant of different views; be sensitive to the possibility of your own
prejudices; respect the right of others to have different opinions.
analytic approach - Answers Analyze potentially problematic situations; anticipate possible results or
consequences; value reason; use evidence-based knowledge.
systemic approach - Answers Be organized, focused; work hard in any inquiry.
self-confidence - Answers Trust in your own reasoning processes.
critical thinking - Answers the ability to think in a systematic and logical manner with openness to
question and reflect on the reasoning process
characteristics of critical thinking - Answers -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 - Answers -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 - Answers 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 - Answers -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 - Answers -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 - Answers -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? - Answers
interpretation - Answers 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 - Answers 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 - Answers 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 - Answers 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 - Answers Support your findings and conclusions. Use knowledge and experience to choose
strategies to use in the care of patients.
self-regulation - Answers 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 - Answers 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 - Answers Read the nursing literature, especially when there are different views on the
same subject. Talk with other nurses and share ideas about nursing interventions.
fairness - Answers Listen to both sides in any discussion. If a patient or family member complains about
a co-worker, listen to the story and speak with the co-worker as well. If a staff member labels a patient
uncooperative, assume the care of that patient with openness and a desire to meet the patient's needs.
, responsibility - Answers Ask for help if you are uncertain about how to perform a nursing skill. Refer to a
policy and procedure manual to review steps of a skill. Report any problems immediately. Follow
standards of practice in your care.
risk taking - Answers If your knowledge causes you to question a health care provider's order, do so. Be
willing to recommend alternative approaches to nursing care when colleagues are having little success
with patients.
discipline - Answers Be thorough in whatever you do. Use known scientific and practice-based criteria
for activities such as assessment and evaluation. Take time to be thorough and manage your time
effectively.
perservance - Answers Be cautious of an easy answer. If co-workers give you information about a
patient and some fact seems to be missing, clarify the information or talk to the patient directly. If
problems of the same type continue to occur on a nursing division, bring co-workers together, look for a
pattern, and find a solution.
creativity - Answers Look for different approaches if interventions are not working for a patient. For
example, a patient in pain may need a different positioning or distraction technique. When appropriate,
involve the patient's family in adapting your approaches to care methods used at home.
curiosity - Answers Always ask why. A clinical sign or symptom often indicates a variety of problems.
Explore and learn more about a patient so as to make appropriate clinical judgments.
integrity - Answers Recognize when your opinions conflict with those of a patient; review your position
and decide how best to proceed to reach outcomes that will satisfy everyone. Do not compromise
nursing standards or honesty in delivering nursing care.
humility - Answers Recognize when you need more information to make a decision. When you are new
to a clinical division, ask for an orientation to the area. Ask registered nurses (RNs) regularly assigned to
the area for assistance with approaches to care.
truth seeking - Answers Seek the true meaning of a situation. Be courageous, honest, and objective
about asking questions.
open-mindedness - Answers Be tolerant of different views; be sensitive to the possibility of your own
prejudices; respect the right of others to have different opinions.
analytic approach - Answers Analyze potentially problematic situations; anticipate possible results or
consequences; value reason; use evidence-based knowledge.
systemic approach - Answers Be organized, focused; work hard in any inquiry.
self-confidence - Answers Trust in your own reasoning processes.
