Develop a definition for critical thinking Distinguish the three (3) different learning strategies Debate and discuss among peers the importance of different strategies to promote thinking critically Discuss the critical thinking process using important steps in a clinical situation
"...purposeful, self-regulatory judgement that uses cognitive tools such as exploration, analysis, prioritizing, explaining, deciding and evaluating of the evidential, conceptual or contextual consideration upon which judgements are based." (APA, 2008)
"...being influenced by knowledge and experience; using strategies such as reflective thinking as part of learning to identify the issues and opportunities and holistically synthesize the information in nursing practice." (Bitner and Tobin, 1998)
"...an essential component of professional accountability and quality nursing care. Critical thinkers in nursing exhibit these habits of the mind: confidence, contextual perspective, creativity, flexibility, inquisitiveness, intellectual integrity, intuition, openmindedness, perseverance, and reflection. Critical thinkers in nursing practice the cognitive skills of analyzing, applying standards, discriminating, information seeking, logical reasoning, predicting, and transforming knowledge." (Scheffer and Rubenfeld 2007)
"...the deliberate nonlinear process of collecting, interpreting, analyzing, drawing conclusions about, presenting, and evaluating information that is both factually and belief based. This is demonstrated in nursing by clinical judgment, which includes ethical, diagnostic, and therapeutic dimensions and research." (NLNAC, 2000)
References: American Philosophical Association. Critical thinking: a statement of expert consensus for purposes of educational assessment and instruction. ERIC document, ED 315-423, 1990. Benner P, Tanner C, Chesla C. Expertise in nursing practice, caring, clinical judgment and ethics. New York: Springer; 1996. Bittner N, Tobin E. Critical thinking: strategies for clinical practice. J Nurses Staff Dev 1998;14:267-72. National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC). Accreditation manual. [Online]. 2002. www.nlnac.org. Retrieved: March 5, 2007. Paul R. Critical Thinking: What Every Person Needs in a Rapidly Changing World. Santa Rosa, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking, 1993.