, CRITICAL THINKING, CLINICAL REASONING
AND CLINICAL JUDGEMENT
A PRACTICAL APPROACH
7TH EDITION
Chapter 1. What are Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning, and Clinical
Judgment?
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Which of the following characteristics do the various definitions of critical thinking have
in common? Critical thinking
1)
Requires reasoned thought
2)
Asks the questions why? or how?
3)
Is a hierarchical process
4)
Demands specialized thinking skills
ANS: 1
The definitions listed in the text as well as definitions in Box 2-1 state that critical thinking
requires reasoning or reasoned thinking. Critical thinking is neither linear nor hierarchical. That
means that the steps involved in critical thinking are not necessarily sequential, where mastery of
one step is necessary to proceed to the next. Critical thinking is a purposeful, dynamic, analytic
process that contributes to reasoned decisions and sound contextual judgments.
PTS:1DIF:Moderate high-level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Analysis
2. A few nurses on a unit have proposed to the nurse manager that the process for
documenting care on the unit be changed. They have described a completely new system. Why is
it important for the nurse manager to have a critical attitude? It will help the manager to
1)
Consider all the possible advantages and disadvantages
2)
Maintain an open mind about the proposed change
3)
Apply the nursing process to the situation
4)
Make a decision based on past experience with documentation
ANS: 2
A critical attitude enables the person to think fairly and keep an open mind.
PTS:1DIF:ModerateKEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level:
,Comprehension
, 3. The nurse has just been assigned to the clinical care of a newly admitted patient. To
know how to best care for the patient, the nurse uses the nursing process. Which step would the
nurse probably do first?
1)
Assessment
2)
Diagnosis
3)
Plan outcomes
4)
Plan interventions
ANS: 1
Assessment is the first step of the nursing process. The nursing diagnosis is derived from the data
gathered during assessment, outcomes from the diagnosis, and interventions from the outcomes.
PTS:1DIF:Easy
KEY: Nursing process: Assessment | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
4. Which of the following is an example of theoretical knowledge?
1)
A nurse uses sterile technique to catheterize a patient.
2)
Room air has an oxygen concentration of 21%.
3)
Glucose monitoring machines should be calibrated daily.
4)
An irregular apical heart rate should be compared with the radial pulse.
ANS: 2
Theoretical knowledge consists of research findings, facts, principles, and theories. The oxygen
concentration of room air is a scientific fact. The others are examples of practical
knowledgewhat to do and how to do it.
PTS:1DIF:Moderate; high-level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
5. Which of the following is an example of practical knowledge? (Assume all are true.)
1)
The tricuspid valve is between the right atrium and ventricle of the heart.
2)
The pancreas does not produce enough insulin in type 1 diabetes.
3)
When assessing the abdomen, you should auscultate before palpating.
4)
Research shows pain medication given intravenously acts faster than by other routes.
ANS: 3
AND CLINICAL JUDGEMENT
A PRACTICAL APPROACH
7TH EDITION
Chapter 1. What are Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning, and Clinical
Judgment?
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Which of the following characteristics do the various definitions of critical thinking have
in common? Critical thinking
1)
Requires reasoned thought
2)
Asks the questions why? or how?
3)
Is a hierarchical process
4)
Demands specialized thinking skills
ANS: 1
The definitions listed in the text as well as definitions in Box 2-1 state that critical thinking
requires reasoning or reasoned thinking. Critical thinking is neither linear nor hierarchical. That
means that the steps involved in critical thinking are not necessarily sequential, where mastery of
one step is necessary to proceed to the next. Critical thinking is a purposeful, dynamic, analytic
process that contributes to reasoned decisions and sound contextual judgments.
PTS:1DIF:Moderate high-level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Analysis
2. A few nurses on a unit have proposed to the nurse manager that the process for
documenting care on the unit be changed. They have described a completely new system. Why is
it important for the nurse manager to have a critical attitude? It will help the manager to
1)
Consider all the possible advantages and disadvantages
2)
Maintain an open mind about the proposed change
3)
Apply the nursing process to the situation
4)
Make a decision based on past experience with documentation
ANS: 2
A critical attitude enables the person to think fairly and keep an open mind.
PTS:1DIF:ModerateKEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level:
,Comprehension
, 3. The nurse has just been assigned to the clinical care of a newly admitted patient. To
know how to best care for the patient, the nurse uses the nursing process. Which step would the
nurse probably do first?
1)
Assessment
2)
Diagnosis
3)
Plan outcomes
4)
Plan interventions
ANS: 1
Assessment is the first step of the nursing process. The nursing diagnosis is derived from the data
gathered during assessment, outcomes from the diagnosis, and interventions from the outcomes.
PTS:1DIF:Easy
KEY: Nursing process: Assessment | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
4. Which of the following is an example of theoretical knowledge?
1)
A nurse uses sterile technique to catheterize a patient.
2)
Room air has an oxygen concentration of 21%.
3)
Glucose monitoring machines should be calibrated daily.
4)
An irregular apical heart rate should be compared with the radial pulse.
ANS: 2
Theoretical knowledge consists of research findings, facts, principles, and theories. The oxygen
concentration of room air is a scientific fact. The others are examples of practical
knowledgewhat to do and how to do it.
PTS:1DIF:Moderate; high-level question, answer not stated verbatim
KEY: Nursing process: N/A | Client need: SECE | Cognitive level: Application
5. Which of the following is an example of practical knowledge? (Assume all are true.)
1)
The tricuspid valve is between the right atrium and ventricle of the heart.
2)
The pancreas does not produce enough insulin in type 1 diabetes.
3)
When assessing the abdomen, you should auscultate before palpating.
4)
Research shows pain medication given intravenously acts faster than by other routes.
ANS: 3
