Critical Thinking in Nursing: A Cognitive Skills Workbook

Unit One BASIC CONCEPTS OF COGNITIVE SKILLS 1
Chapter 1 Critical Thinking 3
Definition 3
Relationship to Problem Solving and Decision Making 3
The Critical Thinker 4
Intellectual Standards in Thinking 4
Process of Critical Thinking 7
Skills of Critical Thinking 9
Pitfalls in Critical Thinking 10
Summary 11

Chapter 2 Problem Solving 19
Definition 19
Nursing Process 19
Decision Making 20
Steps in the Problem-Solving Process 20
Problem-Solving Strategies 23
Pitfalls in Problem Solving 24
Summary 25

Chapter 3 Decision Making 37
Definition 37
Differentiating Decision Making From Problem Solving 37
Factors Influencing Decision Making 38
Characteristics of an Effective Decision Maker 38
Decision Making in Nursing 38
Approaches to Participative Decision Making 39
Decision-Making Tools 40
Process of Decision Making 40
Errors in Decision Making 45
Summary 47

Chapter 4 Priority Setting 59
Definition 59
Time Management 59
Prioritizing Patient Needs 60
Prioritizing Nursing Diagnoses 61
Priority Activities 65
Multitasking 66
Prioritizing Within the Nursing Process 67
Pitfalls in Priority Setting 69
Summary 70

Unit Two COGNITIVE SKILLS IN THE NURSING PROCESS 85
Chapter 5 Nursing Process Applications 87
Definition 87
Role of the Nursing Process 89
Steps of the Nursing Process 90
Care Plan 101
Pitfalls 101
Summary 105

Chapter 6 Delegation 121
Definition 121
Principles of Delegation 122
Five Rights of Delegation 123
Obstacles to Delegation 127
Delegation Procedure 128
Summary 135

Chapter 7 Communication 149
Levels of Communication 149
Verbal Communication 149
Collaboration 150
Report Skills 151
Conflict Resolution 153
Physician Notification 154
Written Communication 157
Summary 157

Chapter 8 Patient Teaching 171
Applying the Nursing Process 171
Learning Needs Assessment 172
Analyzing Needs 178
Outcome Identification 179
Planning the Lesson 179
Implementing the Educational Session 181
Evaluating the Educational Process 181
Summary 183

Unit Three APPLICATION OF COGNITIVE SKILLS 195
Chapter 9 Applying Clinical Reasoning to Various Practice Settings 197
Definition 198
Reasoning 198
Guidelines for Decision Making 198
Application of Cognitive Skills 201
Clinical Reasoning Applications 203
Evaluating the Workload 203
Knowledge and Ability for Varied Settings 204
Pitfalls in Clinical Reasoning 205
Summary 206

Chapter 10 Ethical Decision Making 229
Definition 229
Ethical Guides 230
American Nurses Association Code of Ethics 232
Critical Thinking 235
Process of Ethical Decision Making 236
Ethics Committees 238
Frequent Areas of Dilemma 238
Self-Determination 238
Professional Caregiver Issues 240
Pitfalls in Ethical Decision Making 241
Summary 241

Chapter 11 Applying Nursing Judgment in Clinical Settings 257
Definition 258