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What is “critical thinking”?

• Critical thinking is a dynamic, purposeful, analytic process that

results in reasoned decisions and judgments.

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What is Critical Thinking?

• dynamic(active, self-motivated, vigorous),

• purposeful (focused, persistent, resolute) • analytic(investigative, systematic, logical)

process• reasoned (intelligent, logical, shrewdness)

decisions • judgments (finding, conclusion,

assessment).

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Critical Thinking

• Interpretation is the ability to understand and identify problems– First step is to identify the problem– Second step is to understand what is

taking place

Patient is short of breath. . .

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Critical Thinking

• Analysis is the ability to examine, organize, classify, categorize, differentiate, and prioritize variables.– Nursing Assessment– Differential Diagnosis (What things could

be causing this problem?)– What should I do first? #1 –Life threatening #2 – Important but not life threatening #3 – Could wait if necessary

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Critical Thinking

• Evaluation is the ability to assess the credibility, significance, and applicability of sources of information necessary to support conclusions– In the test-taking setting: looking at all

the evidence presented in the question– In the clinical setting: Do I have all of

the information (physical assess’mt, labs, history)

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Critical Thinking

• Inference is the ability to formulate hypotheses or draw conclusions based on the evidence.– I can infer that my patient is having difficulty

breathing and is hypoxic because:– my patient has a hx of COPD– he is frantically trying to adjust his O2

tank( inadvertently turned off)– his SPO2 IS 88% – his skin color is ashen– he displays telegraphic speech

 

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Critical Thinking

• Explanation refers to the ability to explain the assumptions that lead to the conclusions reached.– Be able to explain why you reached the

conclusion– Accept that you may not always be

correct

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Critical Thinking

• Self-regulation indicates the ability for self-examination and self-correction– Learn from other people– Learn from your mistakes– Take action to do the right thing– Research the areas in which your are

weakest

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Critical Thinking

• The critical thinker is characterized by open-mindedness, flexibility, rationality, inquisitiveness, intuitiveness, and reflection.

• “My responses are limited. You must ask the right questions. . .”– I,RobotA sick patient won’t be able to diagnose their

own problem, even if they’re a doctor.

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STEP #1

After a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, the nurse should perform all of the following interventions except:

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STEP #2

• After you have read the question and understand what is being asked you should:

• Cover/ ignore the answers!• Think about what you know about this

subject—– Tonsil removal, adenoid removal– What are the problems associated with this

surgery?– What is related to patient safety? – What is the #1 priority?

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Step #3

• Read the answers• Decide what you know cannot be the

correct answer (usually 2 of them are way off)

• Look at the two possibly correct answers– prevention of a life threatening

complication– top priority in a nursing skill

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