1. Critical Thinking In Nursing
Eden Center
Kalkaska, MI

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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?

6. 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

7. 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

8. Exploring – what could be causing the change?
Ideas?

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

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

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

12. 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

13. Exploring – what could be causing the change?
Ideas?

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

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

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

17. 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

18. Exploring – what could be causing the change?
Ideas?

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

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

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

22. Questions?