Critical Thinking In Nursing Eden Center Kalkaska, MI

Define critical thinking Multiple Definitions: Active, organized process Identifying assumptions and variables in order to draw conclusions Used to explore alternatives and determine what is important Critical Thinking Involves: Exploring, analyzing, prioritizing, explaining, deciding, and evaluating to identify solutions regarding patient care problems

Exploring Critical Thinking Aspects Exploring – allows you to identify all possible variables Analyzing – studying each identified variable and the relationship to other variables Prioritizing – weigh the importance of the variables Explain – understand the meaning of the variable to a given situation Decide – choose your course of actions Evaluate – requires you to assess and decide if further actions is required

Critical Thinking Tools Always start with your existing base knowledge! Every time you are faced with a new situation identify what you already know Always ask Questions!! At times we hesitate to ask questions out of fear that asking is interpreted as lack of knowledge. However, asking is an integral part of critical thinking Questions help you expand your knowledge, and explore other options.

Ask Why? Starts the information seeing Helps you to interpret information Solve nursing problems Utilize prior knowledge and adapt to new situations What information seeking do you do everyday?

Asking Questions and Seeking Information you do everyday Reviewing EMR Questions orders received from physicians Looking up new medications you have not heard of Review labs Reviewing policies and procedures Reading instructions 24-hour report Asking peers

Scenarios to evaluate critical thinking abilities #1 Mr. Jones is a 86-year old resident that suffers from COPD and just admitted to room 306 from the hospital. Upon admission he is noted to be alert and orientated x 3. He is able to provide complete history to the nursing staff. You are just beginning your shift and find Mr. Jones again alert and oriented x3. You leave to administer medications to other residents. You return 45 minutes later and Mr. Jones appears to be confused and not as alert as your previous encounter. Use the components of critical thinking to figure out what could be going on with Mr. Jones

Exploring – what could be causing the change? Ideas?

Analyzing – what other information can we gather to narrow down possible causes? Ideas?

Prioritizing, Explain, Decide – is this a significant change that warrants me to look further? What is my next step? What does this include?

Evaluation – what is the outcome, do I need to look further? Questions to ask?

Scenarios to evaluate critical thinking abilities #2 Mrs. Jones is a 52-year old that has just admitted for short term rehabilitation. She recently has had a left knee replacement. She does have dx which include asthma, hx of MRSA, and diabetes. Her orders include Norco for pain management, wound care, incision monitoring, and prn respiratory tx. Eight hours after admission she develops dyspnea and decreased O2 sat. Use the components of critical thinking to figure out what could be going on with Mr. Jones

Exploring – what could be causing the change? Ideas?

Analyzing – what other information can we gather to narrow down possible causes? Ideas?

Prioritizing, Explain, Decide – is this a significant change that warrants me to look further? What is my next step? What does this include?

Evaluation – what is the outcome, do I need to look further? Questions to ask?

Scenarios to evaluate critical thinking abilities #3 Mr. Thompson is an 81-year resident on the memory care unit. He has been a resident for 6 months with no significant health history. Dx include Alzheimer’s dementia, BPH, and Diabetes. He is unable to verbally communicate his wants or needs and is dependent upon staff for all ADL’s. In the middle of the night Mr. Thompson develops a temperature with audible wheezing and crackles in the lungs. Use the components of critical thinking to figure out what could be going on with Mr. Jones

Exploring – what could be causing the change? Ideas?

Analyzing – what other information can we gather to narrow down possible causes? Ideas?

Prioritizing, Explain, Decide – is this a significant change that warrants me to look further? What is my next step? What does this include?

Evaluation – what is the outcome, do I need to look further? Questions to ask?

Questions?