Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Success 3e

INTRODUCTION Definition of Critical Thinking Critical thinking is a cognitive strategy by which you reflect on and analyze your thoughts, actions, and decisions. Critical thinking often is integrated into traditional linear processes. Linear processes usually follow a straight line, with a beginning and a product at the end. Some linear-like processes, such as the nursing process, are considered cyclical because they repeat themselves. Some formal reasoning processes include: • Problem Solving—involves identifying a problem, exploring alternative interventions, implementing selected interventions, and arriving at the end product, which is a solution to the problem. • Decision Making—involves carefully reviewing significant information, using methodi- cal reasoning, and arriving at the end product, which is a decision. • Diagnostic Reasoning—involves collecting information, correlating the collected in- formation to standards, identifying the significance of the collected information, and ar- riving at the end product, which is a conclusion or nursing diagnosis. • The Scientific Method—involves identifying a problem to be investigated, collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis through experimentation, evaluating the hy- pothesis, and arriving at the end product, which is acceptance or rejection of the hypothesis. • The Nursing Process—involves collecting information (Assessment); determining sig- nificance of information and making a nursing diagnosis (Analysis/Diagnosis); identi- fying goals, expected outcomes, and planning interventions (Planning); implementing nursing interventions (Implementation/Intervention); and assessing the client’s response to interventions and comparing the actual to expected outcomes (Evaluation) ultimately to arrive at the end product of meeting a person’s needs. Each of these methods of manipulating and processing information incorporates critical thinking. They all are influenced by intellectual standards, such as being focused, methodical, deliberate, logical, relevant, accurate, precise, clear, comprehensive, creative, and reflective. It is helpful to incorporate critical thinking into whatever framework or structure works for you. MAXIMIZE YOUR CRITICAL-THINKING ABILITIES Be Positive: You Can Do It! Assuming responsibility for the care one delivers to a client and desiring a commendable grade on a nursing examination raise anxiety because a lot is at stake: to keep the client safe, 1 2 PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING SUCCESS to achieve a passing grade, to become a nurse ultimately, and to support one’s self-esteem. The most important skill that you can learn to help you achieve all of these goals is to be an accomplished critical thinker. We use critical-thinking skills every day in our lives when we explore, “What will I have for breakfast?” “How can I get to school from my home?” and “Where is the best place to get gas for my car?” Once you recognize that you are thinking critically already, it is more manageable to think about thinking critically. If you feel threatened by the idea of critical thinking, then you must do something positive to confront the threat. You need to be disciplined and to work at increasing your sense of control, which contrib- utes to confidence! You can do it! OVERCOME BARRIERS TO A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE Supporting a positive mental attitude requires developing discipline and confidence. Dis- cipline is defined as self-command or self-direction. The disciplined person will work in a planned manner, explore all options in an organized and logical way, check for accuracy, and seek excellence. When you work in a planned and systematic manner with conscious effort, you are more organized and, therefore, more disciplined. Disciplined people generally have more control over the variables associated with an intellectual task. Effective critical thinkers are disciplined, and discipline helps to develop confidence. Confidence is defined as poise, self-reliance, or self-assurance. Confidence increases as one matures in the role of the student nurse. Understanding your strengths and limitations is the first step to increasing confidence. When you know your strengths, you can draw on them, and when you know your limitations, you know when it is time to seek out the instructor or another resource to help you in your critical thinking. Either way, you are in control! For example, ask the instructor for help when critically analyzing a case study, share with the instructor any concerns you have about a clinical assignment, and seek out the in- structor in the clinical area when you feel the need for support. Failing to use your instruc- tor is like putting your head in the sand. Learning needs must be addressed, not avoided. Although your instructor is responsible for your clinical practice and for stimulating your intellectual growth as a nursing student, you are the consumer of your nursing education. As the consumer, you must be an active participant in your own learning by ensuring that you get the assistance and experiences you need to build your abilities and confidence. When you increase your theoretical and experiential knowledge base, you will increase your sense of control, which ultimately increases your confidence. This applies not just to beginning nursing students but to every level of practice because of the explosion in information and technology. When you are disciplined, you are more in control; when you are more in con- trol, you are more confident; and when you are more confident, you have a more positive mental attitude. Be Reflective: You Need to Take One Step Backward Before Taking Two Steps Forward! Reflection is the process of thinking back or recalling a situation or event to rediscover its meaning. It helps you to seek and understand the relationships among information, con- cepts, and principles and to apply them in future clinical or testing situations. Reflection can be conducted internally as quiet, thoughtful consideration; in a one-on-one discussion with an instructor or anothe