Successful nursing requires learning several skills used to communicate with patients, families, and healthcare teams. One of the most essential skills nurses must develop is the ability to demonstrate critical thinking. If you are a nurse, perhaps you have asked if there is a way to know how to improve critical thinking in nursing? As you read this article, you will learn what critical thinking in nursing is and why it is important. You will also find 18 simple tips to improve critical thinking in nursing and sample scenarios about how to apply critical thinking in your nursing career. Show
RECOMMENDED ONLINE MSN PROGRAMS What Is Critical Thinking In Nursing?Critical thinking in nursing is the process applied by nurses to solve problems related to patient care. It is an essential process necessary to provide efficient, safe, and skillful nursing care. Nurses who use critical thinking skills become influential in decision-making, resulting in enhanced effectiveness and more favorable patient outcomes. 4 Reasons Why Critical Thinking Is So Important In NursingAt its core, nursing involves critical thinking. The importance of developing critical thinking skills as a nurse cannot be overstated. Nurses are faced with decision-making situations daily, and those decisions impact patient outcomes, nurse-patient relationships, and interprofessional relationships. Critical thinking skills in nursing drive the nurse's decision-making ability. It impacts every aspect of patient care. Here are four reasons why nurses must develop critical thinking skills. 1. Critical thinking skills will help you anticipate and understand changes in your patient’s condition.Nurses who learn critical thinking can use those skills to understand normal or abnormal changes in patient conditions and determine what nursing intervention may be necessary to address those changes.2. With strong critical thinking skills, you can make decisions about patient care that is most favorable for the patient and intended outcomes.It is not uncommon for nurses to encounter situations in patient care where there are multiple appropriate options for care or treatment. While more than one treatment option may be reasonable, the nurse's responsibility is to determine which treatment is most appropriate.3. Strong critical thinking skills in nursing can contribute to innovative improvements and professional development.Critical thinking in nursing promotes active thought and decision-making. When nurses demonstrate clinical thinking skills, they are able to promote improvement in patient care methods and improve professional development opportunities, which benefit patients and the healthcare team.4. Critical thinking skills in nursing contribute to rational decision-making, which improves patient outcomes.Although nursing is considered a science, there are instances that require split-second decisions. Nurses who are critical thinkers are more likely to make rational, patient-centered decisions that benefit the client and healthcare team.What Are The 8 Important Attributes Of Excellent Critical Thinking In Nursing?Critical thinking in nursing is characterized by several attributes. The following are examples of attributes of excellent critical thinking skills in nursing. 1. The ability to interpret information:In nursing, the interpretation of patient data is an essential part of critical thinking. Nurses must determine the significance of vital signs, lab values, and data associated with physical assessment. Nurses must also interpret the meaning inferred by a patient's verbal or nonverbal communication and use their interpretation of communication and data to develop and implement effective care plans.2. Independent Thought:Nurses who apply critical thinking use the knowledge and skills they have obtained to examine their beliefs when presented with new evidence. Independent thought means the nurse is open-minded and willing to consider different measures of care, practice, and technical skills and how each will impact patient and professional outcomes.3. Impartiality:Critical thinking nurses consider patient situations based on evidence, not others’ opinions. They remain objective and impartial, which creates an atmosphere conducive to effective communication, which benefits patients and the healthcare team.4. Intuition:Intuition is the ability of someone to perceive and understand concepts without using conscious reasoning. Intuition is often referred to as sixth sense, instinct, suspicion, hunch, or a gut feeling. Although some people view intuition as guessing, and therefore inappropriate, others believe intuition as a legitimate and essential aspect of clinical judgment, acquired through knowledge and nursing experiences. While nurses should use conscious, intentional thought in decision-making, intuition is also an integral part of critical thinking in nursing.5. Problem Solving:When nurses identify problems that represent an unsteady patient status or conflict at work, they use problem-solving. Although they go hand in hand, problem-solving and critical thinking are not the same things. Problem-solving occurs when nurses implement critical thinking measures to obtain information about a problem and suggest possible solutions.6. Flexibility:Despite our best efforts, there are days when patient statuses change unexpectedly, or we must work short-staffed, requiring us to be flexible. Nurses who practice critical thinking understand the importance of flexibility and how that characteristic can lead to better patient outcomes.7. Perseverance:Critical thinking in nursing requires a lifelong commitment to finding effective solutions to nursing and patient problems. Perseverance is a determination to clarify concepts and find effective ways to solve problems despite frustration or difficulties. Nurses who practice perseverance continue to address issues until a resolution is found.8. Integrity:To be effective in nursing, critical thinking must represent integrity in practices. Integrity requires nurses to question their personal beliefs and knowledge as much as they would challenge those of others. It means being willing to admit inconsistencies within one's own beliefs and between their ideas and those of others. Nurses who successfully implement critical thinking are eager to listen to and learn from others to improve patient outcomes, even if it means changing their way of thinking or performing to better the patient and the team.EXAMPLES OF POOR CRITICAL THINKING VS EXCELLENT CRITICAL THINKING IN NURSINGDeveloping critical thinking in nursing takes time and determination. The following are some examples of critical thinking in nursing with scenarios of poor critical thinking and excellent critical thinking responses. 1. Scenario: Patient/Caregiver InteractionsNurses are responsible for maintaining relationships between patients and staff. They take initial reports and discuss care options with patients, families, and other team members.Mrs. Hill’s four-year-old son has a high temperature and calls the after-hours nurse hotline for advice. The nurse taking the call must perform a nursing assessment by phone to determine which recommendations are appropriate. Poor Critical Thinking:The nurse tells Mrs. Hill, “Since I can’t see your son right now, it’s really up to you whether you want to take him to the emergency room. Sometimes you just have to wait it out.”Excellent Critical Thinking:Applying excellent critical thinking in this scenario requires the nurse to ask questions to determine the next steps in patient care. For example, the nurse should ask Mrs. Hill the following questions: “How long has your son's temperature been elevated?" "What is his temperature now, and when is the last time he had medicine to help reduce the fever?" "Is your son able to drink fluids without becoming sick?" "Is your son drowsy or still active?”When the nurse gathers relevant information about the child, she can make a more informed decision about the next, most appropriate steps. Critical thinking in this scenario allows the nurse to decide whether it is okay to wait until the clinic opens the following day, page the primary doctor, or send the client to the emergency room for evaluation. 2. Scenario: Improving Patient Care QualityNurses with good critical thinking skills are instrumental in increasing the quality of patient care and improving patient outcomes. Nurses are the eyes and ears of the healthcare team, and critical thinking skills allow nurses to be effective patient advocates, promoting quality patient care.Mr. Reid is two days post-op following an emergency appendectomy. During the nursing assessment, the nurse notes increased agitation and noticeable tremors in his hands. He is afebrile but is experiencing a more rapid heart rate than four hours ago. Poor Critical Thinking:Because the client had surgery two days ago, and is exhibiting agitation and increased heart rate, the nurse naturally suspects the client is becoming septic. She notifies the physician and requests an order for antibiotics to help resolve sepsis.Excellent Critical Thinking:Although Mr. Reid is exhibiting some symptoms associated with sepsis, the nurse considers other factors. She notes Mr. Reid's temperature is not elevated and has not been elevated since his admission to the post-surgical floor. The nurse realizes Mr. Reid's symptoms could indicate alcohol withdrawal. Due to the nature of his surgery being an emergency, a thorough medical history may not have been available at the time of initial admission. Before calling the physician, the nurse takes the time to gather a comprehensive medical history, including the use of alcohol or recreational drugs.3. Scenario: Interdisciplinary CollaborationCollaboration is a form of interpersonal critical thinking. Each person involved in collaboration must contribute to critical thinking to identify the needs and priorities related to the patient.Mrs. Bellows is a 40-year-old patient receiving treatment for H1N1 influenza. Since being admitted to your care, she has developed Guillain-Barre syndrome and is now on a ventilator. The attending physician has ordered Peramivir 600 mg administered intravenously over thirty minutes once daily for seven days. The nurse has never heard of Peramivir. After looking up the medication, the nurse discovers the drug is experimental and intended to treat complicated cases of Guillain-Barre. Poor Critical Thinking:Because Peramivir is a relatively new drug and the nurse is unfamiliar with the medication, she chooses to follow the physician’s instructions, ordering the medication from the pharmacy and beginning the initial dose.Excellent Critical Thinking:Although the medication may be appropriate for the treatment of Mrs. Bellows, the nurse is unfamiliar with the drug and its potential side effects or adverse reaction. The nurse consults with the physician and the pharmacist to discuss possible reactions or side effects as a precaution. The nurse asks the physician and unit manager to be present during the administration of the initial dose.Although the nurse could administer the medication and report the patient’s response, collaborating with other team members puts the patient’s best interest and safety at the center of care. 4. Scenario: Precepting Nursing Students and Other NursesPrecepting is an excellent way to foster critical thinking skills in nursing students, new nurse graduates, and nurses who are new to your department.Nurse Janna is the charge nurse responsible for precepting the newest nursing team member, Nurse Michael. Nurse Michael appears to be having trouble setting priorities for patient care which is evidenced by him concentrating on one patient at a time instead of considering the needs of all patients assigned to him. Nurse Janna attempts to organize work for Nurse Michael, but he does not carry the approach forward with his next assignment. |
