clinical critical thinking skills test

What is Critical Thinking in Nursing? (With Examples, Importance, & How to Improve)

Successful nursing requires learning several skills used to communicate with patients, families, and healthcare teams. One of the most essential skills nurses must develop is the ability to demonstrate critical thinking. If you are a nurse, perhaps you have asked if there is a way to know how to improve critical thinking in nursing? As you read this article, you will learn what critical thinking in nursing is and why it is important. You will also find 18 simple tips to improve critical thinking in nursing and sample scenarios about how to apply critical thinking in your nursing career.

What is Critical Thinking in Nursing?

4 reasons why critical thinking is so important in nursing, 1. critical thinking skills will help you anticipate and understand changes in your patient’s condition., 2. with strong critical thinking skills, you can make decisions about patient care that is most favorable for the patient and intended outcomes., 3. strong critical thinking skills in nursing can contribute to innovative improvements and professional development., 4. critical thinking skills in nursing contribute to rational decision-making, which improves patient outcomes., what are the 8 important attributes of excellent critical thinking in nursing, 1. the ability to interpret information:, 2. independent thought:, 3. impartiality:, 4. intuition:, 5. problem solving:, 6. flexibility:, 7. perseverance:, 8. integrity:, examples of poor critical thinking vs excellent critical thinking in nursing, 1. scenario: patient/caregiver interactions, poor critical thinking:, excellent critical thinking:, 2. scenario: improving patient care quality, 3. scenario: interdisciplinary collaboration, 4. scenario: precepting nursing students and other nurses, how to improve critical thinking in nursing, 1. demonstrate open-mindedness., 2. practice self-awareness., 3. avoid judgment., 4. eliminate personal biases., 5. do not be afraid to ask questions., 6. find an experienced mentor., 7. join professional nursing organizations., 8. establish a routine of self-reflection., 9. utilize the chain of command., 10. determine the significance of data and decide if it is sufficient for decision-making., 11. volunteer for leadership positions or opportunities., 12. use previous facts and experiences to help develop stronger critical thinking skills in nursing., 13. establish priorities., 14. trust your knowledge and be confident in your abilities., 15. be curious about everything., 16. practice fair-mindedness., 17. learn the value of intellectual humility., 18. never stop learning., 4 consequences of poor critical thinking in nursing, 1. the most significant risk associated with poor critical thinking in nursing is inadequate patient care., 2. failure to recognize changes in patient status:, 3. lack of effective critical thinking in nursing can impact the cost of healthcare., 4. lack of critical thinking skills in nursing can cause a breakdown in communication within the interdisciplinary team., useful resources to improve critical thinking in nursing, youtube videos, my final thoughts, frequently asked questions answered by our expert, 1. will lack of critical thinking impact my nursing career, 2. usually, how long does it take for a nurse to improve their critical thinking skills, 3. do all types of nurses require excellent critical thinking skills, 4. how can i assess my critical thinking skills in nursing.

• Ask relevant questions • Justify opinions • Address and evaluate multiple points of view • Explain assumptions and reasons related to your choice of patient care options

5. Can I Be a Nurse If I Cannot Think Critically?

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Critical Thinking in Nursing: Tips to Develop the Skill

4 min read • February, 09 2024

Critical thinking in nursing helps caregivers make decisions that lead to optimal patient care. In school, educators and clinical instructors introduced you to critical-thinking examples in nursing. These educators encouraged using learning tools for assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Nurturing these invaluable skills continues once you begin practicing. Critical thinking is essential to providing quality patient care and should continue to grow throughout your nursing career until it becomes second nature. 

What Is Critical Thinking in Nursing?

Critical thinking in nursing involves identifying a problem, determining the best solution, and implementing an effective method to resolve the issue using clinical decision-making skills.

Reflection comes next. Carefully consider whether your actions led to the right solution or if there may have been a better course of action.

Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all treatment method — you must determine what's best for each patient.

How Is Critical Thinking Important for Nurses? 

As a patient's primary contact, a nurse is typically the first to notice changes in their status. One example of critical thinking in nursing is interpreting these changes with an open mind. Make impartial decisions based on evidence rather than opinions. By applying critical-thinking skills to anticipate and understand your patients' needs, you can positively impact their quality of care and outcomes.

Elements of Critical Thinking in Nursing

To assess situations and make informed decisions, nurses must integrate these specific elements into their practice:

• Clinical judgment. Prioritize a patient's care needs and make adjustments as changes occur. Gather the necessary information and determine what nursing intervention is needed. Keep in mind that there may be multiple options. Use your critical-thinking skills to interpret and understand the importance of test results and the patient’s clinical presentation, including their vital signs. Then prioritize interventions and anticipate potential complications. 
• Patient safety. Recognize deviations from the norm and take action to prevent harm to the patient. Suppose you don't think a change in a patient's medication is appropriate for their treatment. Before giving the medication, question the physician's rationale for the modification to avoid a potential error. 
• Communication and collaboration. Ask relevant questions and actively listen to others while avoiding judgment. Promoting a collaborative environment may lead to improved patient outcomes and interdisciplinary communication. 
• Problem-solving skills. Practicing your problem-solving skills can improve your critical-thinking skills. Analyze the problem, consider alternate solutions, and implement the most appropriate one. Besides assessing patient conditions, you can apply these skills to other challenges, such as staffing issues . 

How to Develop and Apply Critical-Thinking Skills in Nursing

Critical-thinking skills develop as you gain experience and advance in your career. The ability to predict and respond to nursing challenges increases as you expand your knowledge and encounter real-life patient care scenarios outside of what you learned from a textbook. 

Here are five ways to nurture your critical-thinking skills:

• Be a lifelong learner. Continuous learning through educational courses and professional development lets you stay current with evidence-based practice . That knowledge helps you make informed decisions in stressful moments.  
• Practice reflection. Allow time each day to reflect on successes and areas for improvement. This self-awareness can help identify your strengths, weaknesses, and personal biases to guide your decision-making.
• Open your mind. Don't assume you're right. Ask for opinions and consider the viewpoints of other nurses, mentors , and interdisciplinary team members.
• Use critical-thinking tools. Structure your thinking by incorporating nursing process steps or a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) to organize information, evaluate options, and identify underlying issues.
• Be curious. Challenge assumptions by asking questions to ensure current care methods are valid, relevant, and supported by evidence-based practice .

Critical thinking in nursing is invaluable for safe, effective, patient-centered care. You can successfully navigate challenges in the ever-changing health care environment by continually developing and applying these skills.

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Validation of a clinical critical thinking skills test in nursing

Affiliations.

• 1 Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea.
• 2 Division of Nursing Science, College of Health Science, Ewha Woman's University, Seoul, Korea.
• PMID: 25622716
• PMCID: PMC4352692
• DOI: 10.3352/jeehp.2015.12.1

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a revised version of the clinical critical thinking skills test (CCTS) and to subsequently validate its performance.

Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of the CCTS. Data were obtained from a convenience sample of 284 college students in June 2011. Thirty items were analyzed using item response theory and test reliability was assessed. Test-retest reliability was measured using the results of 20 nursing college and graduate school students in July 2013. The content validity of the revised items was analyzed by calculating the degree of agreement between instrument developer intention in item development and the judgments of six experts. To analyze response process validity, qualitative data related to the response processes of nine nursing college students obtained through cognitive interviews were analyzed.

Results: Out of initial 30 items, 11 items were excluded after the analysis of difficulty and discrimination parameter. When the 19 items of the revised version of the CCTS were analyzed, levels of item difficulty were found to be relatively low and levels of discrimination were found to be appropriate or high. The degree of agreement between item developer intention and expert judgments equaled or exceeded 50%.

Conclusion: From above results, evidence of the response process validity was demonstrated, indicating that subjects respondeds as intended by the test developer. The revised 19-item CCTS was found to have sufficient reliability and validity and will therefore represents a more convenient measurement of critical thinking ability.

Keywords: Intention; Judgment; Nursing students; Reproducibility of results; Thinking.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article exists.

Resultant test information functions. (A)…

Resultant test information functions. (A) Test information function of 30 items. (B) Test…

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Critical and Creative Thinking: An Essential Skill for Every Student

Friday 9th august 2024.

One of the most valuable skills in life is the ability to think independently, clearly, and rationally when analysing a problem and making logical connections between ideas. Creative and critical thinking are key abilities for students, helping them understand, apply and question information. Critical and creative thinking skills are among the most valuable skills a person can have.

The sooner we begin teaching young people skills to think about relationships, work, and culture, the better prepared they will be to navigate life’s challenges. In a world filled with ups, downs, and misinformation, cultivating critical and creative thinking capability empowers young individuals to make wise decisions and solve problems effectively.

What is creative thinking?

Creative thinking is the ability to generate valuable and original ideas, possibilities and actions to solve a problem. Creative thinkers use their imagination to innovate not only a large number of ideas but also a variety and range of them. They experiment, consider ideas from multiple perspectives, and test different solutions. These kinds of thinkers will step out of their comfort zone and take risks to try their original ideas.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is often confused with intelligence, but they are different. While everyone is born with different kinds of intelligence, critical thinking is a skill that can be taught and practised. Critical thinking involves cognitive skills that help us think logically toward goals, and a mindset to use those skills effectively. Critical thinkers are open-minded, seeking evidence for their beliefs and spotting flawed arguments. They also work to overcome biases like hindsight or confirmation bias.

Creative thinking vs critical thinking

The main difference between critical and creative thinking is where they place their emphasis: critical thinking is about examining existing ideas and concepts, and creative thinking is more focused on generating new ones. While distinct processes, the two work in a complementary fashion, allowing students to identify problems or holes, and also craft innovative solutions. Being able to think both critically and creatively improves the ability to navigate complex situations and make meaningful decisions.

What are the characteristics of critical and creative thinking?

The benefits of developing critical and creative thinking skills are varied, and can play a positive role in all areas of life. To be a good critical and creative thinker, students should practise several key skills:

• Curiosity: Every great action or discovery begins with curiosity and a drive to explore, question and seek understanding of the world. Curiosity fuels learning and encourages deeper engagement with topics. Curious students also engage in lateral thinking and examining ideas from all angles.
• Brainstorming: Developing ideas and solutions with an innovative mind significantly influences how students tackle challenges presented to them. Part of this process may involve mind mapping and making connections between topics, as well as problem solving and finding effective solutions.
• Decision Making: A key skill is being able to critically consider different courses of action, understand consequences, and choose an effective solution. This may include an element of risk taking, with students needing to step out of their comfort zone or risk uncertainty, which can foster personal growth, resilience and innovation.
• Reflection: A critical thinking technique that allows students to consider their actions and behaviours, and whether they were effective or correct. This involves making inferences based on evidence, and closely evaluating the quality of decisions and solutions. It also often leads to more creative ideas in response.

How to develop critical and creative thinking skills in students

To enhance your critical thinking and creative thinking together, students must immerse themselves in subject-specific environments rich in content. Each subject requires a unique approach to critical thinking, so this immersion helps develop tailored abilities for each area of study.

During this process, it’s important to maintain objectivity in decision-making. Utilise foresight to pause and carefully consider the implications of your decisions. Taking time for students to reflect on the learning experience and creating an environment for students to feel comfortable to ask questions also helps develop these skills. Teachers will use various strategies for developing critical and creative thinking to support students in acquiring and applying these skills.

Join us at St Francis Xavier College

At St Francis Xavier College, we strive for our students to use critical and creative thinking techniques in their studies. We want to prepare them not only for the classroom but also how to be successful in their future careers and overall life. Check out our other news articles for subject ideas and study tips, and get in touch to learn more.

Acknowledgements

St Francis Xavier College acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia’s First People and Traditional Custodians. We are proud and fortunate to live and serve on the land of the Bunurong people. We recognise their intelligence, care and stewardship of this land for many generations. We pay respect to their elders, past, present and emerging. We commit ourselves to moving forward in a spirit of reconciliation.

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Critical Thinking and Clinical Reasoning in the Health Sciences: An International Multidisciplinary Teaching Anthology

NC Facione and PA Facione. Critical Thinking and Clinical Reasoning in the Health Sciences: An International Multidisciplinary Teaching Anthology. 2008. California Academic Press. 285. $49.95 (softcover) ISBN: 978-1-891557-60-6.

In Critical Thinking and Clinical Reasoning in the Health Sciences: An International Multidisciplinary Teaching Anthology , 39 educators share classroom strategies and activities designed to enhance students' critical thinking skills. The majority of these authors represent schools of medicine or nursing. One school of pharmacy faculty member is identified. The editors, Drs. Noreen and Peter Facione are well known for their research in critical thinking and their development of critical thinking skills instruments which have been used widely in education: the California Critical Thinking Skills Test, California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory, and the Health Science Reasoning Test. Uses of these instruments in pharmacy education have been published. However, this book is far from being a promotion of these instruments. In fact the instruments themselves are rarely mentioned.

This book is not intended as an in-depth literature review of critical thinking research. Its overall theme is presented in a question posed by the Faciones in the preface, “What can I do in my classes to improve my students reasoning test scores and the clinical judgment processes?” [v] The Faciones answer their question by describing the anthology as providing “successful examples of favorite lessons which work when teaching for both thinking and content.” [vi]

There are 27 contributions in this book that describe various educational activities and lessons. The majority of contributions describe activities in classes for medical and nursing students. Other health science-related students are represented also. Pharmacy students are not represented. It should be noted that the “contributions” in this book are not referred to as “chapters” nor are they numbered consecutively in the table of contents. This is a minor inconvenience. The contributions are easy to read and the majority are 10 pages or less. A nice feature at the beginning of each contribution is a short, personal introduction of the author(s) and lesson. The formats of each contribution are similar and usually include headings such as background, learning objectives, rationale, expectations of students, instructions, criteria for evaluation, and student feedback. A review of theory and research is not a major part of most of the contributions, but references are provided by the authors. The figures and charts used are helpful; however, 2 of the figures use font styles that make reading difficult. [p118;120]

The Faciones begin the book with an introductory discussion of “Clinical Thinking and Clinical Judgment.” Subsequent contributions describe different classroom lessons intended to enhance critical thinking. A few examples include: “Nurturing Students' Meta-Cognition and Self Reflection Through On-line Journaling” (Giancarlo-Gittens), “Developing On-line Cases for Teaching Critical Thinking and Clinical Reasoning Skills” (Kim et. al.), “Using Short Cases to Teach Thinking” (Oermann), “The Poster: A Critical Thinking and Creative Strategy in a Research Course” (Profetto-McGrath), and “Thinking Critically About the Care of Patients with Neurological Disorders (Shin). The final contribution in the book, “Training the Discovery of Evidence of Critical Thinking” by Peter Facione, provides an interesting discussion of the “Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric” which the Faciones developed. The rubric itself is presented along with an Internet link where more information can be obtained.

Most lessons in this book can be related to pharmacy education with little difficulty. The different lessons and activities provide useful ideas to consider for adoption. For example, Dr. Chur-Hansen, a psychologist teaching at the University of Adelaide in Australia, describes a reflective journal on learning required in a course taught for health science, medical, and psychology students. One of the student learning objectives is the “development of critical reflection skills about the course and one's own abilities, including strengths and weaknesses in relation to course requirements, and course aims and objectives.” (p 95) Specific instructions are given for the journal writing. Evaluation criteria are also provided.

Student feedback is found in the majority of contributions and typically described as positive. However, it would have been helpful if more attention would have been devoted to this and how the feedback was used to make changes, if any, in the activity. Insight into what the students did not like would have been useful.

This book can be recommended to pharmacy educators. It will be particularly appealing to the pharmacy faculty member who is interested in enhancing student critical thinking skills and who is not reluctant to consider utilizing new or different successful educational strategies.

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What skills can cyber security experts develop to adapt to AI and quantum computing?

A career in cyber security is incredibly rewarding. Each day practitioners are met with new challenges that test their problem solving and critical thinking skills. It rewards creativity and can make a tangible impact on a business, its customers and society. High levels of demand for cyber security expertise also means that it’s one of the best paying roles in tech with a great level of job security. However, cyber security professionals are in a never-ending arms race with hackers. Security threats are evolving all the time, and, with the amount of data businesses carry growing at a rapid rate to underpin AI innovation, the consequences of a breach are becoming more and more acute. This is why it’s so important for cyber security professionals to constantly upskill. It’s also critical to be fully versed in emerging trends, understand the risks and benefits, that will change the nature of cybersecurity and adapt their training accordingly.

Two of the most important major trends are AI and quantum computing – let’s take a look at some of the skills that you should start thinking about learning today:

AI has already caused plenty of new security headaches for businesses – from generative AI powered phishing campaigns, synthetic fakes, self-evolving malware, to workers inputting sensitive data into LLMs. Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as AI becomes more sophisticated so too does its potential to create more potent hacking attacks on an unprecedented scale. On the other side, AI also has the capacity to create an arsenal of new offensive and defensive tools for cyber security experts. There are already AI advancements for real-time threat detection, correlation of large data sets, and automated workflow management to supplement understaffed teams. Some practitioners are also using generative AI to simulate attacks and responses, to better prepare for the inevitable, and accelerate incident response. The list of applications goes on, but perhaps the most interesting use case is proactive threat detection – which will allow cyber security professionals to go on the offensive.

To fully get to grips with the benefits and challenges of AI it is essential to have foundational knowledge in both AI and data science. Acquiring skills such as prompt engineering so that you can better use gen AI tools is also important. Having a fundamental grasp of data will also better enable you to scrutinise results and detect potential errors in the tools that you use. AI naturally opens up a whole series of data governance challenges which will evolve rapidly in line with changing legislation. There are courses that offer certification for AI governance which includes learning how to develop, integrate and deploy trustworthy AI systems.

Given the scope of AI’s capacity to do both good and harm, it’s also important to get a good grounding in data ethics. This will enable you to recognise when an application of AI could or does cross a moral line.

Quantum computing

Like AI, Quantum has the capacity to utterly transform how we all live and work. For reference, quantum computing operates in a fundamentally distinct manner from conventional computers. Instead of relying on classical bits for data storage and processing, quantum computing harnesses quantum bits, known as qubits, governed by the principles of quantum mechanics.

Practically speaking, it opens the door to unfathomably powerful computing. Although this will have unprecedented benefits, it will also likely enable hackers to circumvent nearly all our existing cyber security measures. Luckily, it also opens the door to widespread use of quantum cryptography.

It may seem that quantum computing is still a long way off, but such has been the rate of advancements that it’s conceivable that we will start to see more mainstream use of it in the next decade. Ambitious cyber security professionals could become trail blazers in this sector if they start acquiring relevant skills now. Naturally, understanding the basics of quantum computing and cryptography is a must. Some organisations are already looking at how to make their businesses ‘quantum safe’. To do this they will need security experts who understand the risks and opportunities, and crucially, can devise a strategy to facilitate it. If you do become part of the first generation of quantum security experts, you will also have the opportunity to train other professionals and educate colleagues. Quantum skills shouldn’t be just for the academic community. Post-quantum cryptography is no longer just a futuristic concept, but a necessity in the present day. Anyone who works in the field and ignore its principles and techniques could be left at a severe disadvantage.

Consider developing your communication and writing skills. It will naturally help you in numerous ways in your current role.

Enduring skills for now and the future

AI and quantum computing are just two of numerous other trends that are adding complexity to our working lives. It’s now more important than ever that modern tech workers, in any field, have good communication and collaboration skills. As cyber security professionals grapple with technical complexity and information overloads every day. Facing increasingly complex problems and encountering information entering their ecosystems at lightning-fast speeds. Along with analyst’s predisposition to working alone, the current sate of incident response is a recipe for burnout.

Motivation for collaboration must become a priority in the culture of your cybersecurity organisation to rise to todays’ challenges. To successfully defend an environment requires a human-centred approach to cyber security. Cybersecurity professionals should encourage new channels of communication and build habits that efficiently move information to the right teams. Collaboration and communication skills in cybersecurity teams cultivate a culture of trust, connectivity, and agility to harness innovation and motivate team members improving overall resilience.

There are plenty of resources to help you on your upskilling journey, with custom learning pathways to fit every security role. It’s important to find a method and format that best suits the way you learn and can fit around your schedule, so it doesn’t become an inconvenience or burden. Remember, when you do acquire a new skill, find a way to apply it immediately to consolidate your learning, and share your knowledge. Done correctly, upskilling can be both professionally and personally rewarding – with the added benefit of making your career more lucrative and completely future proof.

Richard Beck , Cyber Security Practice Director at QA

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