Is Critical Thinking TAUGHT or just ASSESSED?

sunny d · Mar 4, 2010

thanks Mi Vida Loca, now I understand, good examples!

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

thanks Mi Vida Loca, now I understand, good examples!

You're welcome. I am glad I could help.

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 4, 2010

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

I took logic in my freshman year of college -- not as a requirement, but as an elective. All my high school teachers had told me I would enjoy it and be good at it and my Dad was big on it. It was one of my favorite classes of all time -- and one of the most useful.

I agree that it should be a requirement. I think it is more important than a lot of the science stuff that some nursing schools require -- much more useful than plant biology.

Michaelxy · Mar 4, 2010

The debater in me tells me that critical thinking is more than just logical thinking and common sense, as this is a very linear approach to a problem and often limits ones visio-spatial perspective. Linear thinking (Much like a NASA engineer does) often has a tunneled approach to a problem and fails to see the overall big picture, (Case in point the Mars lander, Group A used metric system, Group B used English system, end result a failed mission).

In nursing, one must approach problems in such a way as to see the big picture, as logic often delineates important factors that in the long run will have an impact on a outcome based upon a decision. The critical thinker must first look at the big picture, then approach the problem with fair mindedness and intellectual integrity.

Critical thinking requires more than just a logical approach, it requires one to tackle a problem from all angles and without self-bias before making a choice.

I took a critical thinking class awhile ago and my professor always brought up the ancient Greeks like Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato to name but a few. These men were masters of an argument, which if you think about it, all choices are always proceeded with an argument whether it be in your own thoughts or verbally with another.

A good book that covers critical thinking is entitled "Everything is an Argument"

http://www.amazon.com/Everythings-Argument-Readings-Andrea-Lunsford/dp/0312407246

NURSETUTORHELP · Mar 4, 2010

I can only speak for myself on this one....

I went to nursing school a LOOOONG time ago.

I started out in an ADN/diploma program and I have to say that I did not learn how to really exercise true "critical thinking" until I entered a BSN program.

I have since taught several nursing courses and I think that the way you are taught to analyze situations really depends on the instructor.

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 4, 2010

I don't think critical thinking is synonymous with answering NCLEX-style questions. They are two different skills and honestly, honing my skills at answering NCLEX questions doesn't make me a better nurse. In real life you won't be choosing from four prefabricated answers that all sound right (or wrong). However, it's very important to learn to think about what you're doing and why you're doing it, not just to follow orders. When you find out that you're assigned to a patient who has x, y and z, you need to know what to look out for in this patient, what are signs that he might be going downhill, which interventions you should be ready to carry out, etc.

One type of test question that I hate is "what is an early sign of .... " or "what is a late sign of ... " It's enough that I have to remember what the signs are, how should I remember what's an early or a late sign? But in real life, the signs that a patient is deteriorating might be subtle and you really need to use your critical thinking skills to interpret what you see. You need to head off a bad situation before it begins, and being able to differentiate between early and late manifestations of a disease process is part of that.

CBsMommy · Mar 4, 2010

Michaelxy - You said it perfectly. The only thing that I would add is not only do you need to see a problem and outcome from all sides of the issue, but you need to determine what those outcomes would be and again, critically think about those outcomes to make sure your initial decision is the "best" one. Basically, it's thinking big picture, analyzing big picture, and staying three steps ahead of the issue. For instance, my client is retaining urine after surgery. I can either, 1) Do nothing or 2) Ask another nurse or 3) Call the Dr. and get a scrpit for Urecholine. If I do nothing, what is going to happen to the patient? (Big picture). They will probably continue to retain urine. If I ask another nurse, depending on that other nurse, she may tell me to do nothing or tell me to call the doctor. Would that be a wise decision to make or would I be wasting the other nurse's time? 3) I would call the doctor and (assuming he/she agreed) would write me a script for Urecholine. If I give this to my patient, it will hopefully relieve the problem of urine retention BUT the patient's heart rate may go down and the patient be may dizzy. What does that mean? That is going to lead to a possible fall risk and the fact that I need to monitor vitals as well as urine output. Another thing that it means is that we need to watch the patient closely as they will need to void more often, etc. I could go on and on.

Hopefully this helps. NCLEX questions are one thing, and while critically thinking goes into those questions, I find the situations that I am presented with (without 4 possible answers) really help me to critically think. Good luck!

sunny d · Mar 5, 2010

thanks to all who posted and provided such great insight and book recommendations! I guess I now see why critical thinking is so important and difficult in nursing school because it is one thing to pick the correct one of four multiple choice answers (hard enough) but then to apply critical thinking in real life nursing is another story.