How Critical Thinking is Used in Clinical Nursing and How it Relates to Competence

Critical Thinking
Recall your early clinical nursing experiences—what guided your decisions? Did you practice nursing ‘by the book'? Now, consider how you make decisions today. How have your clinical experiences fostered a greater depth of knowledge and critical thinking?
This week's Learning Resources explore skill development and levels of knowledge acquisition based on clinical experience. For example, Benner suggests that as a nurse gains more experience, knowledge and skill level increases. Nurses move from novices—making decisions based on rules—to experts who are able to see connections between actions and outcomes using critical thinking. This Discussion focuses on the role of critical thinking in nursing practice and the connection between critical thinking, clinical competence, and scholarship.
To prepare:
Review the Learning Resources focusing on critical thinking and Benner's interpretation of the Novice to Expert theory.
Reflect on how critical thinking is used in clinical practice. How does critical thinking relate to, or support, clinical competence?
What critical thinking strategies do you use to improve your clinical competence and thus move from novice to expert?
Consider the connection between critical thinking, nursing practice, and scholarship.
POST THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THIS PAPER.
Post your observations on how critical thinking is used in clinical practice (provide examples); how you employ critical thinking strategies to improve clinical competence; and your thoughts on the connections between critical thinking, scholarship, and practice.
Support your Discussion assignment with specific resources used in its preparation using APA formatting. You are asked to provide a reference for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course: Critical Thinking, Reading, and Analysis
As you explored in previous weeks, the ability to think critically is an essential aspect of scholarship.
To be effective as a scholar-practitioner, you must also understand how this skill pertains to your professional practice. What is the relationship between critical thinking and clinical competency? How will you apply effective critical thinking strategies in your practice setting?
This last week, you examine critical thinking and its application in nursing practice.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Explain the relationship between critical thinking and clinical competency
Analyze the connection between critical thinking, clinical competence, and scholarship
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Learning Resources
Note: To access this week's required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Required Readings
Berkow, S., Virkstis, K., Stewart, J., Aronson, S., & Donohue, M. (2011). Assessing individual frontline nurse critical thinking. Journal of Nursing Administration, 41(4), 168–171. doi:10.1097/NNA.0b013e3182118528.
The authors of this article developed a tool to assess 25 critical thinking skills deemed necessary for frontline nurses.
Jenkins, S. (2011). Cross-cultural perspectives on critical thinking. Journal of Nursing Education, 50(5), 268–274. doi:10.3928/01484834-20110228-02.
This article seeks to further define common characteristics of critical thinking by exploring the influence of culture on its definition. They compare nursing students' perceptions of critical thinking from the United States with Thailand.
Zori, S., Nosek, L. J., & Musil, C. M. (2010). Critical thinking of nurse managers related to staff RNs' perceptions of the practice environment. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 42(3), 305–313. doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.2010.01354.x
When nurse leaders have strong critical thinking skills, it creates a better work environment for others. This article examines that influence and its impact on patient safety and delivering quality care.
Current Nursing. (2011). Nursing theories: A companion to nursing theories and models: From novice to expert. Retrieved from http://currentnursing(dot)com/nursing_theory/Patricia_Benner_From_Novice_to_Expert.html
This website outlines the Novice to Expert Theory, applied to nursing, by Patricia Benner.
Kaminski, J. (2010). Theory applied to informatics—Novice to expert. Canadian Journal of Nursing Informatics, 5(4). Retrieved from http://cjni(dot)net/journal/?p=967
Kaminski explains the Novice to Expert Theory and its application in nursing practice.
Marchigiano, G., Eduljee, N., & Harvey, K. (2011). Developing critical thinking skills from clinical assignments: A pilot study on nursing students' self-reported perceptions. Journal of Nursing Management, 19(1), 143–152. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2834.2010.01191.x. Retrieved from: https://www(dot)researchgate(dot)net/profile/Nina_Eduljee/publication/49744322_Developing_critical_thinking_skills_from_clinical_assignments_A_pilot_study_on_nursing_students'_self-reported_perceptions/links/55fc4fec08aec948c4b3424b.pdf
This article examines student experiences in the clinical setting that facilitate the development of critical thinking skills.
NSW Health. (2011). Benner's stages of clinical competence. Retrieved from http://www(dot)health(dot)nsw(dot)gov(dot)au/nursing/projects/Documents/novice-expert-benner.pdf
As you evaluate research articles, or information found on the Internet it is important to read the material with a critical eye
Recall your early clinical nursing experiences—what guided your decisions? Did you practice nursing ‘by the book'? Now, consider how you make decisions today. How.
Discussion: Critical Thinking have your clinical experiences fostered a greater depth of knowledge and critical thinking?
This week's Learning Resources explore skill development and levels of knowledge acquisition based on clinical experience. For example, Benner suggests that as a nurse gains more experience, knowledge and skill level increases. Nurses move from novices—making decisions based on rules—to experts who are able to see connections between actions and outcomes using critical thinking. This Discussion focuses on the role of critical thinking in nursing practice and the connection between critical thinking, clinical competence, and scholarship.
To prepare:
Review the Learning Resources focusing on critical thinking and Benner's interpretation of the Novice to Expert theory.
Reflect on how critical thinking is used in clinical practice. How does critical thinking relate to, or support, clinical competence?
What critical thinking strategies do you use to improve your clinical competence and thus move from novice to expert?
Consider the connection between critical thinking, nursing practice, and scholarship.
THE SAME OBJECTIVE AS STATED ABOVE
Post your observations on how critical thinking is used in clinical practice (provide examples); how you employ critical thinking strategies to improve clinical competence; and your thoughts on the connections between critical thinking, scholarship, and practice.
Support your Discussion assignment with specific resources used in its preparation using APA formatting. You are asked to provide a reference for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course.