Can we talk Critical Thinking?

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So... critical thinking is my biggest fear... because I worry I can't think critically! How do you "know" if you can or not... and can it be learned... or is it a gift you are born with...? Opinions?

Can anyone recommend a good book(s) on critical thinking?

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sorryy double post.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Never fear. If you are asking this question now, I have faith that you will ask the right questions in the future.

Progression of a nurse through critical thinking:

1. Don't what they're doing and don't know that they don't know what they're doing. (unconsciously incompetent)

2. Don't know what they're doing but recognize they don't know. (consciously incompetent).

3. Know what they are doing and normally knows why. (consciously competent).

4. Knows what they are doing but doesn't always know why. (unconsciously competent). This last one, they are the nurses that can look at a pt and comment, 'he ain't right', and you had better start looking for what's wrong. They might not know why, but they are in tune enough to know to start looking for the whys BEFORE it gets critical.

But the point is: critical thinking is a function of experience and learning priorities. Keep critical thinking as a bias to consider for everything you do, and you'll not only learn how to think critically, but you'll learn how to be a great nurse in the process.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

I wouldn't worry about. I just started nursing classes this semester and in one of my classes (Intro to Nursing) we talk a LOT about critical thinking and have a whole book on critical thinking....I think it definatly is something that can/is taught for most people, it's just part of the educational process of being an RN.

Plus probably some of your teachers from pre-req classes taught you some critical thinking skills without you realizing that is what they were doing (in my case this has been true at least).

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Thanks for all the positive vibes!!

Timothy... thanks for the clearer picture on critical thinking.... I am trying to think of ways I can "practice" thinking critically in everyday life.

marilynmom... I haven't actually started anything yet... I have only applied! yikes! :)

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Specializes in ER.

Up until last week, I was very worried about this myself. I am just now applying for my clinical program (will find out in March), and I work as an ED tech. I was soooo worried that I wouldn't be able to be a "critical thinker." Just last week, one of the nurses at work said to me, "Janelle, you will make such a great nurse, you're a great critical thinker." So I said, thank you for the confidence boost, but what exactly do you mean that I'm a great critical thinker? She said, well, put it this way. When a pt. comes in, and has certain signs/symptoms, you're always looking to see what might be the cause, and even though you don't know all the clues to look for yet, you're always on the right track and asking the right questions. She said she noticed how I pick up on details that will help the patient in the diagnostic process... for example, I took the initiative to ask the MD for an order for a cath urine on a pt. w/ lady partsl bleed for her urine culture labwork. She said that was a good example of critical thinking, because it means that I understand the importance of a clean specimen for a urine culture, and the potential for contamination w/ a pt. w/ lady partsl bleed. Of course I don't have the knowledge yet of how to interpret lab results or EKGs or tons of other things, but I'm always asking "why?" and trying to figure out what it all means. Before I do a task, be it as small as taking q15min. vital signs, or repeating an EKG, I like to know the rationale behind doing it, and what I'm looking for. ex. change in BP or O2 sats, or a change in the EKG from the previous one. So I guess without knowing it, I'm on my way to being a good critical thinker! It's just such a scary term, because it sounds so darn smart and academic!

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So... critical thinking is my biggest fear... because I worry I can't think critically! How do you "know" if you can or not... and can it be learned... or is it a gift you are born with...? Opinions?

Can anyone recommend a good book(s) on critical thinking?

Wow, I have been totally thinking the same thing. How does one know. I read a post on here that was talking about the critical thinking topic on NS. Saying that people get through school just memorizing everything but are they really unerstanding. I wonder myself sometimes am I just memorizing the info being told to me. How do I know if I am truly getting it. I am taking Pharmocology and this class seems like it will definitly test my critical thinking skills. So I will see. Good luck to you!!!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Well, we've been down this road a couple of times in the past week. Please read through this thread

https://allnurses.com/forums/f233/critical-thinking-138481.html and also follow the links in it to other threads that discuss this subject of critical thinking. You don't want to get a book on this--it's very heady stuff. You just want to know what it is and how to put it to practical use. If you don't believe me I dare you to go through the tutorial on critical thinking at this web site: http://www2.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/

Yes, you can learn to think critically. We all do it to some extent in our lives. Critical thinking involves seeking the answer to the question "why?"

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Timothy summed it up in ?

p.s. When I switched from adult critical care to NICU, I instantly lost #3 and 4. Took a good 6 months or more to even get a feel for it. Wierd feeling!

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Timothy summed it up in ?

p.s. When I switched from adult critical care to NICU, I instantly lost #3 and 4. Took a good 6 months or more to even get a feel for it. Wierd feeling!

I cheated. That was from a class I took on the topic of critical thinking at the Amer Assoc of Critical-Care Nurse's annual Convention in New Orleans last May (before Katrina).

~faith,

Timothy.

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Timothy, thanks for the food for thought. From here on in... I will drive people nuts with why, why, why... and then more why, why, why in my head! lol...

I guess "reading" how to think critically is like reading about how labour and delivery will feel!

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