HELP!! Critical thinking!!!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2008

to critical think you must:

know and consider the normal anatomy and physiology
know and consider abnormal anatomy for the disease in question
know and consider the resulting signs and symptoms when the disease occurs and how they proceed from mild to fatal - each sign and symptom can be related back to the pathophysiology of the disease
know and consider how the doctor diagnoses and treats the disease in question
know nursing interventions for the signs and symptoms you are being asked about
know the steps of the nursing process and what goes on in each of the steps and consider how they are affecting the question you are being asked
know and consider the principles behind the actions being done - there are many kinds of principles: principles of nursing, principles of biology, principles of chemistry, principles of physics, etc.
read the stem of the question carefully and answer that because the test makers try to trip you up by distracting you with conflicting information they give you in the answer choices that sounds good but has no relationship to what the question is asking for
ask yourself "why" a patient is experiencing some sign or symptoms to get at the underlying problem. nursing like other disciplines treats the problem/signs and symptoms.

over the years i have learned that the nursing process really was designed to help us think critically (rationally). although it is named the nursing process, it is not owned by us exclusively. it came from the scientific method and researchers use it all the time.

C. Thinking · Oct 23, 2008

Don't forget to incorporate "Maslow's hierarchy of needs". This can be very helpful in answering those tough questions that have two "right" answers, but only one "best".

Maslow formulates that every person has the same basic needs and are prioritized as follors:

Physiological - Breathing, food, water, sex, sleep, homeostasis, excretion
Safety - security of body, mind, overall safety.
Love/Belonging - relationships; friends, family, intamacy
Esteem - self-esteem, achievment, etc
Self-actualization - Accepting of ones full being

If you have gone through the question or situation and all other knowledge of procedure/care has left you without the best answer, start going down Maslow's hierarchy. Make sure the the patient in question has everything in each category, if they don't, that will probably be important in your answer of best action.