BASIC NURSING: THINKING, DOING & CARING
CHAPTER 2 – 2026 STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (A+ GUIDE)
Critical Thinking
-is the art of thinking about your thinking, while you are thinking in order to make your
thinking better: more clear, more accurate, or more defensible
- a combination of reasoned thinking, an openness to alternatives, an ability to reflect, and
a desire to seek the truth.
Skills
in critical thinking refer to the cognitive processes used in complex thinking operations
such as problem solving and decision making.
Examples of critical thinking skills
-objectively gathering information on a problem or issue
-recognizing the need for more information
-evaluating the credibility & usefulness of sources of information
-recognizing gaps in one's own knowledge
-listening carefully
-reading thoughtfully
-separating relevant from irrelevant data and important from unimportant data
-organizing or grouping information in meaningful ways
- making inferences (tentative conclusions) about the meaning of information
- Visualizing potential solutions
,- Exploring the advantages, disadvantages, and consequences of each potential action
- Evaluating the credibility and usefulness of sources of information
- Recognizing differences and similarities among things or situations
- Prioritizing or ranking data
Attitudes
-Not the same as intellectual skills
- Feelings and states of mind
- Your attitudes and character will determine whether you will use your critical thinking
skills fairly and with an open mind.
- Without a critical attitude, people tend to use thinking skills to justify narrow-mindedness
and prejudice and to benefit self rather than others.
Independent Thinking
-Critical thinking attitude
- Critical thinkers don't just go along with the crowd
- Do not accept or reject idea before they understand it
- Nurses should challenge actions, practices, and policies having little logical support
Intellectual Curiosity
- Critical thinking attitude
- Critical thinkers love to learn new things
- They are inquisitive, exhibit an attitude of inquiry, and frequently think or ask "what if"
"how" and "why" questions
, Intellectual Humility
-Critical thinking attitude
- Critical thinkers are aware that they do not know everything
- When unsure, they are not too proud or too embarrassed to ask for help from mentors
with wisdom, knowledge, skills, and ability
- Reevaluate conclusions or actions in light of new information and are willing to admit
when they're wrong
Intellectual Empathy
-Critical Thinking attitude
- Critical thinkers try to understand the feelings and perceptions of others
- Then try to see a situation as the other person sees it
Intellectual Courage
- Critical Thinking attitude
- Critical thinkers consider and examine fairly their own values and beliefs as well as the
beliefs of others, even when this is uncomfortable
- They are willing to rethink, and even reject, previously held beliefs that are not well
justified
- Without intellectual courage, people become resistant to change
Intellectual Perseverance
CHAPTER 2 – 2026 STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (A+ GUIDE)
Critical Thinking
-is the art of thinking about your thinking, while you are thinking in order to make your
thinking better: more clear, more accurate, or more defensible
- a combination of reasoned thinking, an openness to alternatives, an ability to reflect, and
a desire to seek the truth.
Skills
in critical thinking refer to the cognitive processes used in complex thinking operations
such as problem solving and decision making.
Examples of critical thinking skills
-objectively gathering information on a problem or issue
-recognizing the need for more information
-evaluating the credibility & usefulness of sources of information
-recognizing gaps in one's own knowledge
-listening carefully
-reading thoughtfully
-separating relevant from irrelevant data and important from unimportant data
-organizing or grouping information in meaningful ways
- making inferences (tentative conclusions) about the meaning of information
- Visualizing potential solutions
,- Exploring the advantages, disadvantages, and consequences of each potential action
- Evaluating the credibility and usefulness of sources of information
- Recognizing differences and similarities among things or situations
- Prioritizing or ranking data
Attitudes
-Not the same as intellectual skills
- Feelings and states of mind
- Your attitudes and character will determine whether you will use your critical thinking
skills fairly and with an open mind.
- Without a critical attitude, people tend to use thinking skills to justify narrow-mindedness
and prejudice and to benefit self rather than others.
Independent Thinking
-Critical thinking attitude
- Critical thinkers don't just go along with the crowd
- Do not accept or reject idea before they understand it
- Nurses should challenge actions, practices, and policies having little logical support
Intellectual Curiosity
- Critical thinking attitude
- Critical thinkers love to learn new things
- They are inquisitive, exhibit an attitude of inquiry, and frequently think or ask "what if"
"how" and "why" questions
, Intellectual Humility
-Critical thinking attitude
- Critical thinkers are aware that they do not know everything
- When unsure, they are not too proud or too embarrassed to ask for help from mentors
with wisdom, knowledge, skills, and ability
- Reevaluate conclusions or actions in light of new information and are willing to admit
when they're wrong
Intellectual Empathy
-Critical Thinking attitude
- Critical thinkers try to understand the feelings and perceptions of others
- Then try to see a situation as the other person sees it
Intellectual Courage
- Critical Thinking attitude
- Critical thinkers consider and examine fairly their own values and beliefs as well as the
beliefs of others, even when this is uncomfortable
- They are willing to rethink, and even reject, previously held beliefs that are not well
justified
- Without intellectual courage, people become resistant to change
Intellectual Perseverance
