Define critical thinking.

OK, another post got me thinking about critical thinking (I sound like a late night talk show host now). Anyway, how do you define it? Have any good examples of things you've done that displays it?

Its such a buzz word nurses use and I cant wrap my mind around it. Every time someone tries to explain it, I just cant help but think........"Thats just doing your job, its not some special form of thinking."

Good example.......someone posted about a new nurse who gave a BP med to someone with an already low BP. The new nurse didnt check the pt's BP before giving it. Then finished the post with something to the effect of "This is task oriented nursing at it worst" or something of that nature.

Now, I look at that, and.......considering myself a task oriented person (why is that considered bad?, isnt the point to get the work done?)......think......."No way, a task oriented person would not skip the task of checking the BP, that was a case of laziness."

Anyone have a description of critical thinking that works. I know a lot of people simply call it common sense. Is that all it really is?
It is common sense but it is a questioning common sense!It is thinking about what you are doing and evaluating the variables in that action.'I have to do this' ,'what will happen if I do' ? 'what will happen if I don't'? etc.On task orientation ,we often use that phrase to denote someone who knows their job but cannot cope if something out of the ordinary happens while doing that job.They like to work from A to B to C and are not able .or sometimes willing to include a variable into their work 'routine'.

Ah. So, someone with developed critical thinking skills can handle the unexpected better. Hmmm..........not sure how I do with unexpected. Guess I'm avg. at that portion. Thanks.

I think of it as logic, common sense, and using those things.

Quite simply, it is making a decision based on facts. It's opposite is making a decision based on no information.

I printed those forms. R U a teacher?

I also think that critical thinking involves thinking ahead and, like was said before, being able to react quickly and appropriately to whatever happens.I think critical thinking and common sense do go hand in hand though. Not that you can't learn how to think critically, but I think some people are born with it, and some people have to work on it.

Quote from eriksolnI printed those forms. R U a teacher?

It's a process. For example, to quote another thread about coumadin and an INR of 9, if the nurse just goes ahead and gives the coumadin anyway because it's ordered at 2000, then he/she is NOT thinking, much less critically thinking. If nurse says "whoa....INR is way out of line....if I give that coumadin, pt might start bleeding out his/her eyeballs.....not good. Ok, so I'm not going to give it. Now, WHY is the patient's INR 9? Has it been rechecked just to make sure it's an accurate number? What other values has patient had during his/her stay? Is pt on bleeding precautions now? I'm calling the doc....should I get an order for Vit K? Maybe we should guaiac stools...." THAT is critical thinking.

Quote from tencatIt's a process. For example, to quote another thread about coumadin and an INR of 9, if the nurse just goes ahead and gives the coumadin anyway because it's ordered at 2000, then he/she is NOT thinking, much less critically thinking. If nurse says "whoa....INR is way out of line....if I give that coumadin, pt might start bleeding out his/her eyeballs.....not good. Ok, so I'm not going to give it. Now, WHY is the patient's INR 9? Has it been rechecked just to make sure it's an accurate number? What other values has patient had during his/her stay? Is pt on bleeding precautions now? I'm calling the doc....should I get an order for Vit K? Maybe we should guaiac stools...." THAT is critical thinking.

Quote from DaytoniteI post on the Student Assistance Forum all the time, usually answer care plan questions.

I believe that critical thinking is problem solving. I can remember when I was a student in RN training and I had a pt. that did not have a chair that was needed on the floor. I ran up to the rehab floor and grabbed one. My instructor told me that was critical thinking. But, I must admit prior to that I told him that there were no chairs on the floor. He told me that I must get one and to use my critical thinking skills. ? Anyways, I was harrassed by this certain instructor for not using critical thinking skills. However, by the end of the course, he told me that I improved.

Quote from iwannaI believe that critical thinking is problem solving. I can remember when I was a student in RN training and I had a pt. that did not have a chair that was needed on the floor. I ran up to the rehab floor and grabbed one. My instructor told me that was critical thinking. But, I must admit prior to that I told him that there were no chairs on the floor. He told me that I must get one and to use my critical thinking skills. ? Anyways, I was harrassed by this certain instructor for not using critical thinking skills. However, by the end of the course, he told me that I improved.