Is Critical Thinking TAUGHT or just ASSESSED?

2bJoshRN9788 · Mar 3, 2010

I cannot speak for other schools, but at my school (BSN) critical thinking is assessed and not really taught. The professors tell students to grab a NCLEX review book and practice those critical thinking questions to improve

~FutureNurse~ · Mar 3, 2010

In my program we were not "taught" -- it is a skill that is learned. IMO I can tell such a huge difference in my critical thinking skills from my first nursing class, to today--my last nursing class. You learn critical thinking from nursing exams and NCLEX books. It is just a different way of looking at test questions, and life in general.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 3, 2010

I think critical thinking is a thought process some just have, others have to be taught it,and some have it but need to learn how to better define it. If that makes sense. Some people I have seen just see so black or white it's a concept they never learn, while others thrive because it's how they always have thought.

Not sure if that made sense LOL

sunny d · Mar 3, 2010

Thank you to everyone who replied! Just one more quick question: can anyone give an example where someone used black and white thinking when more shades of gray would have been better to answer somthing that required critical thinking in nursing school? I'm just trying to see if I can understand this whole approach to critical thinking!

itsmejuli · Mar 3, 2010

I think critical thinking is a thought process some just have, others have to be taught it,and some have it but need to learn how to better define it. If that makes sense. Some people I have seen just see so black or white it's a concept they never learn, while others thrive because it's how they always have thought.
Not sure if that made sense LOL

You did a great job explaining critical thinking.

Critical thinking applies to our every day lives. When you plan how you will spend your paycheck deciding which bills are due and what can wait you are using critical thinking skills. When you make a decision about whether or not to drive to the mall in a snowstorm you are making a critical decision. When you have to decide between visiting your sick grandma who you rarely see or going out on a date with a new boyfriend again you are making a critical decision.

Usually with age and experience comes wisdom from the ability to critically think about issues and decisions that must be made in our lives.

But with nursing one must understand the concept of critical thinking, use it and act on it. Some of it can be taught but the rest will come from studying and experience.

Its a shame that most nursing schools don't require a logic class as a pre-req. Yeah, I know how much everyone enjoys philosophy

studentinnursing · Mar 4, 2010

Here's when I did not use critical thinking and used black and white:

I am in Microbiology, my last prereq before nursing, so you know I am not in nursing school, but my college's whole theme is 'critical thinking.' So here's a black and white example (the one I picked--I didn't look at the 'big picture' --I'm a 'black and white' type and have to remember to look outside the box).

I was asked a question about 2 kinds of viruses, there were 4 choices having to do with things that they have in common or don't, and there was something listed that they do similarly -- I even quoted the book when I asked about my score, but the OBVIOUS answer was the 'big picture' -- synthesis (by means of their host's machinery! but I didn't think about the question). . . but here I am literally "going by the book" and marking each off whether each answer fit or not, then I found one where the words said what I was looking for and thought, that's it! but all I needed to do was THINK :idea: ! For an open book assignment, boy did I feel silly. All I had to do was stop and think what ALL viruses have in common instead of nitpicking every little thing listed, yes, no, yes, no.

Hope that gives an idea of what NOT to do, everything is not black and white (and even if it is they will surely find a round about way to ask about it). And some advice, if you've studied for 10-12 hours, right after that is not when to do your assignments! Get some sleep first.

sunny d · Mar 4, 2010

Thank you mi via loca, I agree with itsmejuli, your explanation of critical thinking is very clear. And itsmejuli, I agree with you that there should possibly be some sort of logic class as a pre-requisite for nursing school.

Everyone says that the hardest part of nursing school is the critical thinking part, so I don't understand why this is isn't taught...it makes me think that maybe those who define the nursing school curricula may feel that a. critical thinking can't be taught, and b. that those who can't think critically shouldn't become nurses, and just let them do poorly or flunk out.

If critical thinking can be taught, it seems like it should be taught and required as a pre-requisite (maybe using case studies?). If crictical thinking can't be taught, it seems like there must be some way to assess whether or not a person already has this skill before admitting them into nursing school.

If anyone knows of some online course to develop critical thinking for nurses, I'd love to know about it - or even if there are good books out there for this, that would be maybe even better. thanks again to all who posted!

sunny d · Mar 4, 2010

thanks, studentinnursing for the black and white example of how Not to critically think ! Your answer made me realize that I've been dealing with multiple choice questions that require critical thinking, so I have at least an idea of how to approach this! thanks again

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 4, 2010

I will try to give an examples, not sure how good they will be because it's hard to explain. But hopefully it will be easier to maybe understanding.

1) You are at the nurses station and see the tele monitor shows no heartbeat, you go into patient room and see it on their machine too, so thinking black and white you call a code. Everyone rushes in and turns out the cord got disconnected and you never "critical thought" to actually check the lines and the patient, feel for pulse, assess color and so on. Your black and white thinking automatically said monitor shows nothing so patient must be coding.

2) You walk in to assess your patient who is laying down and he is struggling to breath, appears out of it, and pulse ox is showing 75% on room air. Thinking black and white you again might just call for help or go call Dr. but as a nurse you must critical think, you raise the bed to help him get air, you put oxygen on him and check that everything is working and in place and then let the Dr know whats going on.

You also have to realize rarely are things black in white when it comes to people, the book can't give you absolutes. Sure the typical S/S might be this, but you can't just assume this person is lying or it can't be something because it's not the norm.

Hopefully this helps, I know they are not the best examples but they are what came to mind.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 4, 2010

Thank you mi via loca, I agree with itsmejuli, your explanation of critical thinking is very clear. And itsmejuli, I agree with you that there should possibly be some sort of logic class as a pre-requisite for nursing school.
Everyone says that the hardest part of nursing school is the critical thinking part, so I don't understand why this is isn't taught...it makes me think that maybe those who define the nursing school curricula may feel that a. critical thinking can't be taught, and b. that those who can't think critically shouldn't become nurses, and just let them do poorly or flunk out.
If critical thinking can be taught, it seems like it should be taught and required as a pre-requisite (maybe using case studies?). If crictical thinking can't be taught, it seems like there must be some way to assess whether or not a person already has this skill before admitting them into nursing school.
If anyone knows of some online course to develop critical thinking for nurses, I'd love to know about it - or even if there are good books out there for this, that would be maybe even better. thanks again to all who posted!

There is a book that is really good for nursing, in fact I can't tell you how many questions from it have come up on our exams. LOL it's called Prioritization,Delegation Assignment. It's geared toward med surge nursing but it's really good on all aspects and has a lot of case studies.

Another one we have found really helpful is

Prentice Hall's Reviews & Rationales: Comprehensive NCLEX-RN® Review

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Mar 4, 2010

Here's when I did not use critical thinking and used black and white:
I am in Microbiology, my last prereq before nursing, so you know I am not in nursing school, but my college's whole theme is 'critical thinking.' So here's a black and white example (the one I picked--I didn't look at the 'big picture' --I'm a 'black and white' type and have to remember to look outside the box).

LOL I am the opposite, I am such an out of the box thinker and revolt against black and why so much that I actually like nursing exams better. I usually do pretty good on the multiply multiples and prioritization questions that a lot of my classmates hate. LOL I am guilty though of often times ready way to much into a question.