Deck 4: Critical Thinking in Nursing

Question 1

The nurse is preparing to teach indwelling urinary catheter insertion techniques to a group of graduate nurses. Which teaching-learning strategy would the nurse find most useful in teaching this skill?

A) Concept mapping
B) Simulation
C) Role playing
D) Literature review

Answer 1

Simulation

Question 2

The nurse has been hired for a first job and is nervous about making errors in clinical judgment. It is important for the nurse to realize that clinical reasoning and the ability to make decisions in a clinical setting occurs at which time?

A) When it has been instilled in the content covered in nursing school.
B) When it is solely based in clinical experience.
C) When it develops over time with increased knowledge and expertise.
D) When it is an expectation of all nurses regardless of experience.

Answer 2

When it develops over time with increased knowledge and expertise.

Question 3

The nurse is taking an advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) recertification class. As part of that class, the nurse and other nurses in the group rotate responsibilities during multiple mock code exercises simulating cardiac arrest scenarios. The nurse recognizes what process is assigning the nurses to these different responsibilities?

A) Concept mapping
B) Simulation
C) Role playing
D) Literature review

Answer 3

Role playing

Question 4

The nurse is preparing to administer an anticoagulant when the patient says, "Why do I have these bruises on my arms?" The nurse reviews the patient's blood tests and notes an abnormal bleeding time. When the nurse then decides to hold the medication and notify the health care provider, the nurse recognizes this to be an example of which action?

A) Thinking aloud
B) Reviewing the literature
C) Applying knowledge
D) Role playing

Question 5

The patient is complaining of severe incisional pain 2 days after surgery. The patient has Morphine ordered intravenously or by mouth. When the nurse chooses to give the medication orally, this is an example of which thought process?

A) Decision making
B) Reasoning
C) Problem solving
D) Judgment

Question 6

The nursing student is observing a staff nurse demonstrating a subcutaneous injection during a skills competency fair. The student tells the nurse that nursing textbooks indicate that aspirating for blood is not necessary. The nurse replies, "I prefer to check for blood, just in case. This is the way I learned to give shots and it works for me." The nurse's response is most likely related to which concept?

A) Illogical thinking
B) Bias
C) Closed-mindedness
D) Erroneous assumption

Question 7

The nurse is planning care for a group of patients and recognizes which activity may be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel?

A) Analysis of the patient's physical condition
B) Morning vital signs, height, and weight
C) Evaluation of whether colostomy drainage is normal
D) Determining patient readiness for post-surgical learning

Question 8

The nurse is caring for a patient who is suspected of having early stages of dementia and observes mild confusion, short-term memory loss, and restlessness. When the nurse conducts a mini-mental status exam, the nurse is using which component of critical thinking?

A) Validation
B) Interpretation
C) Intuition
D) Reasoning

Question 9

The nursing student is admitting a patient with abdominal distention and severe nausea. The provider orders the insertion of a nasogastric tube. The student reviews the procedure, gathers the supplies, and tells the instructor, "I'm ready to begin." Which critical-thinking trait suggests that the student is prepared for the task?

A) Risk taking
B) Curiosity
C) Confidence
D) Perseverance

Question 10

The nurse is reviewing the last 3 days of a patient's pain history and notes that the pain level has remained constant. The nurse validates the pain level with the patient and decides to contact the provider for further orders. In this scenario, which process is the nurse is using?

A) Decision making
B) Reasoning
C) Problem solving
D) Judgment

Question 11

The nurse completes the health interview and physical exam on a patient admitted with an infection of the gallbladder. The nurse reviews the medical record and compares the abnormal lab results to the normal standards. Which critical-thinking skill is the nurse using in this part of the nursing process?

A) Interpretation
B) Analysis
C) Evaluation
D) Inference

Question 12

A patient arrives at the urgent care clinic and complains of vague pains in the legs and the nurse asks the patient to describe this pain in greater depth. The nurse knows this is a critical-thinking skill and can be developed in which context?

A) Critical thinking is used to avoid repetition in providing care.
B) Critical thinking can be enhanced through practice.
C) Critical thinking should be based in thought and not spontaneity.
D) Critical-thinking skills become dull when used routinely.

Question 13

The nurse is caring for a patient scheduled for a heart catheterization. During shift report, the nurse describes an overheard telephone conversation regarding the patient's HIV-positive son-in-law. The nurse recognizes that this information should be evaluated for which characteristic?

A) Accuracy
B) Depth
C) Breadth
D) Relevance

Question 14

The nurse has finished a shift and is on the way home. During the shift, one of the patients attempted to climb out of bed and fell. When the nurse is returning home and is thinking about what could have been done differently to be prevent the fall, this would be an example of what concept?

A) Evidence
B) Standards
C) Attributes or traits
D) Reflection

Question 15

The nurse is preparing to restart a patient's intravenous line and discovers that the patient has no usable veins in either arm. When working to solve this problem, the nurse should carry out which action?

A) Discuss the problem with the nurse in charge.
B) Not start the intravenous line.
C) Conduct an Internet search for infusion journal articles.
D) Contact the provider and report the concern.

Question 16

When working on the ability to critically think, the nurse needs to develop a critical-thinking character that includes which quality?

A) Developing honesty and confidence
B) Learning from experiences
C) Enhancing self-reliance
D) Growing a "thick skin" to withstand criticism

Question 17

The nurse is administering medications to a patient with high blood pressure. The patient states, "This pill made me so sick yesterday. Are you sure I have to take it now?" What action does the nurse take next?

A) Give the medication because no one gets sick on this pill.
B) Hold the medication and check the order since there may be a lack of information.
C) Give the medication since he/she is the nurse and knows what should be done.
D) Give the medication since the nurse did not see the provider come so the order is valid.

Question 18

The nurse has received advanced orders for a patient who is being admitted from the emergency department (ED). The patient's name is Mr. Herman Goldstein. Trying to get ahead, of tasks, the nurse changes the patient's diet from "Regular" to "Kosher." When the patient reaches the unit, the nurse discovers that the patient is Catholic even though his father is Jewish. The nurse is guilty of giving in to which concept?

A) Illogical thinking
B) Bias
C) Closed-mindedness
D) Erroneous assumption

Question 19

A patient has been instructed in self-administration of insulin injections. The nurse observes the patient attempting to recap the needle and realizes that further teaching is needed. The nurse is applying which critical-thinking skill of the nursing process?

A) Interpretation
B) Analysis
C) Inference
D) Evaluation

Question 20

A patient, frequently admitted to the hospital for chronic back pain, asks the medication nurse for additional pain medication. The nurse has seen patients like this before, and "knows" that the only reason that these people come to the hospital is to get their pain medication. In this scenario, the nurse is demonstrating which concept?

A) Illogical thinking
B) Bias
C) Closed-mindedness
D) Erroneous assumption

Question 21

The nurse knows that professional nursing requires a commitment to which reasons for lifelong learning?

A) Treatment modalities and technology continue to advance.
B) There are always new things to memorize and store in memory.
C) Nurses are expected to update and maintain competency.
D) Critical thinking is essential in nursing.
E) Nursing school gives the nurse all one needs to be competent.

Question 22

The nurse has been practicing for several years and has become an unofficial leader, with newer nurses asking for advice about patient care. They are amazed at how much the older nurse "thinks like a nurse." To "think like a nurse," the nurse must carry out which actions?

A) Be a nurse for several years.
B) Be able to apply knowledge in making clinical decisions.
C) Actively participate in the process.
D) Accept procedures that have been in place for years as right.
E) Develop a questioning attitude.

Question 23

The nurse observes that a patient who recently had an indwelling urinary catheter removed complains of burning on urination and that the urine is cloudy and foul smelling. Based on this assessment, the nurse may reason that the patient has a urinary tract infection (UTI). The nurse comes to this conclusion using which reasoning concept?

A) Inductive reasoning
B) Deductive reasoning
C) Intellectual thought processes
D) Intuition

Question 24

A patient is admitted to a skilled nursing facility with a closed head injury. The nurse believes that the patient has been pocketing food in his cheeks during the noon meal although she has not found any food pocketed. The nurse refers the patient to the speech therapist for a swallowing evaluation. The nurse is using which critical-thinking component in making this decision?

A) Inference
B) Deductive reasoning
C) Intuition
D) Inductive reasoning

Question 25

The nurse recognizes that when a patient is initially interviewed and assessed, the nurse must complete which tasks?

A) Analyze the patient's psychomotor status.
B) Take the patient's vital signs.
C) Weigh the patient using a bed scale.
D) Evaluate the patient's emotional and spiritual needs.
E) Ensure the coordination of the patient's care.