Deck 8: Critical Thinking: A Lifelong Journey

Question 1

The nursing student has learned the principles of determining and recording intake and output.When the student cares for a patient who has had a liquid breakfast and has voided twice and vomited once,the student documents intake and output in the patient's chart using the cognitive level known as

A) knowledge.
B) comprehension.
C) application.
D) analysis.

Answer 1

application.

Question 2

When an instructor asks a nursing student to answer a question in her or his own words and give an example,the cognitive level utilized is

A) knowledge.
B) comprehension.
C) application.
D) analysis.

Answer 2

comprehension.

Question 3

A nursing student demonstrates the ability to recall and repeat memorized information but does not understand the information.This is an example of what cognitive level?

A) Analysis
B) Knowledge
C) Application
D) Comprehension

Answer 3

Knowledge

Question 4

Which remark by a nurse demonstrates the use of critical thinking?

A) "I just let my thoughts flow."
B) "My mind is made up. Why listen further?"
C) "I play and replay a situation, like using instant replay."
D) "I think about what other information I need before proceeding."

Question 5

The student reads a definition of a nursing term and is asked to state whether the sentence is true or false.The cognitive level of this exercise is

A) knowledge.
B) comprehension.
C) application.
D) analysis.

Question 6

A nurse is performing routine vital signs on patients.The nurse has obtained vital signs many times before and is able to do so without much conscious thought.This is an example of

A) directed thinking.
B) negative thinking.
C) ruminative thinking.
D) nonfocused thinking.

Question 7

A strategy a nurse might use to improve critical thinking skills is to

A) avoid challenging situations.
B) take observations at face value.
C) think about the meaning of relevant theory while giving patient care.
D) implement the first solution thought of when solving patient care problems.

Question 8

A student nurse recently learned during a lecture about Maslow's hierarchy of needs.During the clinical rotation,the student is able to prioritize patient care based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs.The student is using what cognitive level?

A) Analysis
B) Knowledge
C) Application
D) Comprehension

Question 9

A first-postoperative-day patient received pain medication 6 hours ago.He states he is not experiencing pain but refuses to deep breathe and ambulate as ordered.The nursing student caring for him consults her instructor,asking whether it might be advisable to administer pain medication.The student is using

A) the right brain hemisphere.
B) the intrapersonal learning style.
C) linguistic memory.
D) critical thinking.

Question 10

A nursing instructor encourages student nurses to use critical thinking in the clinical setting.The instructor understands that critical thinking

A) uses both logic and intuition.
B) is driven by the nurse's needs.
C) entails nonpurposeful thinking.
D) is based on nonscientific methods.

Question 11

A nurse is caring for a postpartum patient.The nurse assesses the patient's fundus,notes that it is deviated to the side,and instructs the patient to void.The nurse understands that this intervention should allow the fundus to effectively contract.The nurse's thinking is purposeful and outcome oriented.This is an example of

A) directed thinking.
B) habitual thinking.
C) nonfocused thinking.
D) ruminative thinking.

Question 12

Which question should be asked by a nursing student who is developing a plan to increase his critical thinking ability so as to achieve higher grades?

A) "Do I comprehend information from textbooks and classes?"
B) "I wonder how to improve my overall efficiency?"
C) "I'll have to learn from my mistakes."
D) "Someone needs to check my conclusions."

Question 13

A student nurse recalls that sleeping medications are administered at 2100.When the student is questioned about why sleeping medications are given at this time,the student states,"I memorized that sleeping pills are given at 2100.I have no idea why." The student is using what cognitive level?

A) Analysis
B) Knowledge
C) Application
D) Comprehension

Question 14

The nursing student tells a peer,"Once I begin studying,I don't dare take a break.If I stop for even 5 minutes,I know I'll never go back to studying." The peer identifies this statement as

A) negative thinking.
B) random thinking.
C) ruminative thinking.
D) all-or-nothing thinking.

Question 15

A patient tells the nursing student,"I keep thinking of the mistake I made that led to the accident.I can't get it out of my mind.Now my son has a broken leg." The nursing student correctly identifies this as

A) random thinking.
B) habitual thinking.
C) ruminative thinking.
D) directed thinking.

Question 16

A nursing student demonstrates the ability to break down complex information into its basic parts and relate those parts to the whole picture.This is an example of what cognitive level?

A) Analysis
B) Knowledge
C) Application
D) Comprehension

Question 17

Which factor that influences critical thinking provides the best rationale for using a team meeting to plan care for a patient?

A) Collaboration
B) Moral development
C) Self-confidence
D) Maturity

Question 18

During morning report,the nursing student receives a description of the assigned patient's current problems.When the student determines the priority nursing intervention,she is processing information at the cognitive level known as

A) knowledge.
B) comprehension.
C) application.
D) analysis.

Question 19

A nurse is caring for a postpartum patient who is hemorrhaging.The nurse considers several possibilities for postpartum hemorrhaging,including retained placental fragments,a full bladder,and uterine atony.The nurse is using what cognitive level?

A) Analysis
B) Knowledge
C) Application
D) Comprehension

Question 20

A nursing student demonstrates the ability to basically understand information,recall it,and identify examples of that information.This is an example of what cognitive level?

A) Analysis
B) Knowledge
C) Application
D) Comprehension

Question 21

A nursing student determines that she needs to increase her reading effectiveness.Identify two effective strategies for accomplishing this goal that can be implemented immediately.Select all that apply.

A) Read one word at a time.
B) Move her lips while reading.
C) Read recreational literature more slowly than technical material.
D) Underline unfamiliar words.

Question 22

Which of the following are the cognitive levels used in the NCLEX-PN examination?

A) Analysis
B) Intuition
C) Application
D) Knowledge
E) Correlation
F) Comprehension

Question 23

An instructor tells a nursing student,"I have noticed that you sometimes engage in nonfocused thinking." Which behaviors are consistent with the instructor's observation?

A) The student consistently looks for solutions to problems.
B) The student makes up his mind quickly and ignores additional facts.
C) The student focuses on the negative aspects of nearly every situation.
D) The student looks for creative ways to improve situations.

Question 24

During a performance evaluation,the evaluator describes several behaviors of the nurse.Select the observations that indicate the nurse uses critical thinking.

A) "I have noted that you base care on patient needs."
B) "Your caregiving is guided by identified outcomes."
C) "You use professional standards as guidelines."
D) "You tailor interventions to the circumstances."
E) "None of above."

Question 25

The NCLEX-PN examination includes items that require various levels of thinking to answer a test item.These various levels are called ____________________.

Question 26

A nursing student demonstrates the ability to use learned material in new situations.This is an example of what cognitive level?

A) Analysis
B) Knowledge
C) Application
D) Comprehension

Question 27

Clinical judgments about patients that result from critical thinking have what as their basis?

A) Evidence
B) Assumptions
C) Ethical principles
D) Personal preference of the nurse

Question 28

The cognitive levels used on the NCLEX-PN examination are knowledge,comprehension,application,and ____________________.

Question 29

To think critically,it is necessary to do which of the following?

A) Access information
B) Comprehend information
C) Recall the comprehended information when needed
D) Store comprehended information in short-term memory only
E) Know what to do when information is not in long-term memory

Question 30

To describe critical thinking in nursing to a peer,which characteristics would the nurse mention?

A) Random use
B) Patient focused
C) Uses logic and intuition
D) Bases judgments on assumptions
E) Does not require ongoing evaluation