Deck 2: Critical Thinking: Nursing Process

Question 1

A few nurses on a unit have proposed to the nurse manager that the process for documenting care on the unit be changed.They have described a completely new system.Why is it important for the nurse manager to have a critical attitude? It will help the manager to:

A) Consider all the possible advantages and disadvantages
B) Maintain an open mind about the proposed change
C) Apply the Nursing Process to the situation
D) Make a decision based on past experience with documentation

Answer 1

Maintain an open mind about the proposed change

Question 2

A nurse admits a patient to the unit after completing a comprehensive interview and physical examination.To develop a nursing diagnosis,the nurse must now:

A) Analyze the assessment data
B) Consult standards of care
C) Decide which interventions are appropriate
D) Ask for the client's perceptions of her health problem

Answer 2

Analyze the assessment data

Question 3

A full-spectrum nurse uses a critical-thinking model to organize her thinking when caring for a patient.The nurse realizes she lacks some facts about the patient's pathophysiology,so she makes sure to use a credible source for the information.She considers the alternatives for action,then again looks up some information.Before deciding what to do,she thinks about the patient's family situation.What aspect of a critical-thinking model does this best illustrate? The nurse is:

A) Following model guidelines for specific interventions
B) Using linear processes to think critically
C) Moving back and forth between steps, and not thinking sequentially
D) Using self-knowledge in the decision-making process

Answer 3

Moving back and forth between steps, and not thinking sequentially

Question 4

What is the best description of the Nursing Process? The Nursing Process is:

A) A way to create nursing knowledge for use in practice
B) A systematic view of a specific phenomenon in nursing
C) A linear process for providing nursing care
D) A systematic process for the delivery of nursing care

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a client with heart failure.She begins to obtain the client's history and vital signs and then listens to breath sounds.The nurse is practicing which aspect of the Nursing Process?

A) Assessment
B) Planning interventions
C) Planning outcomes
D) Evaluation

Question 6

What do critical thinking and the Nursing Process have in common?

A) They are both linear processes used to guide one's thinking.
B) They are both thinking methods used to solve a problem.
C) They both use specific steps to solve a problem.
D) They both use similar steps to solve a problem.

Question 7

The nurse developed a care plan for a patient to help prevent Impaired Skin Integrity.She has made sure that nursing assistive personnel change the patient's position every 2 hours.In the evaluation phase of the Nursing Process,which of the following would the nurse do first?

A) Determine whether she has gathered enough assessment data
B) Judge whether the interventions achieved the stated outcomes
C) Follow up to verify that care for the nursing diagnosis was given
D) Decide whether the nursing diagnosis was accurate for the patient's condition

Question 8

Which of the following is the most important reason for nurses to be critical thinkers?

A) Nurses need to follow policies and procedures.
B) Nurses work with other healthcare team members.
C) Nurses care for clients who have multiple health problems.
D) Nurses have to be flexible and work variable schedules.

Question 9

In caring for a patient with both diabetes and Impaired Skin Integrity (comorbidity),the nurse draws on her knowledge of diabetes and skin integrity.In a spirit of inquiry,she looks up the latest guidelines for providing skin care and includes them in the plan of care.The nurse provides skin care according to the procedural guidelines and begins regular monitoring to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions.The nurse has demonstrated:

A) Full-spectrum nursing
B) Critical thinking
C) Nursing Process
D) Nursing knowledge

Question 10

The nurse is caring for a client with skin breakdown of the coccyx area.The physician has ordered a medication to be applied to the area.In applying the medication,the nurse is practicing which aspect of the Nursing Process?

A) Assessment
B) Planning interventions
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation

Question 11

The nurse documents in the client plan of care that the wound treatment to the client's left foot has resulted in wound healing.She removed the Skin Integrity diagnosis from the plan of care.The nurse is using which aspect of the Nursing Process?

A) Assessment
B) Evaluation
C) Planning outcomes
D) Planning interventions

Question 12

How does a nursing diagnosis differ from a medical diagnosis? A nursing diagnosis is:

A) Terminology for the client's disease or injury
B) A part of the client's medical diagnosis
C) The client's presenting signs and symptoms
D) A client's response to a health problem

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of self-knowledge? The nurse thinks,"I know that I:

A) Should take the client's apical pulse for 1 full minute before giving digoxin"
B) Should follow the client's wishes even though it is not what I would want"
C) Have religious beliefs that may make it difficult to take care of some clients"
D) Need to honor the client's request not to discuss his health concern with the family"

Question 14

The nurse has just been assigned to the clinical care of a newly admitted patient.To know how best to care for the patient,the nurse uses the Nursing Process.Which step would the nurse probably undertake first?

A) Make an assessment
B) Make a diagnosis
C) Plan outcomes
D) Plan interventions

Question 15

The nurse administering pain medication every 4 hours is an example of which aspect of patient care?

A) Assessment data
B) Nursing diagnosis
C) Patient outcome
D) Nursing intervention

Question 16

Which is the best example of a critical-thinking attitude? The nurse:

A) Has extensive knowledge of principles and theories
B) Has a lively curiosity and enjoys discovering new ways of doing things
C) Applies the problem-solving process he was taught in nursing school
D) Responds to patients mainly on the basis of what is socially approved

Question 17

The nurse enters a room to find the client sitting up in the chair,crying.The nurse best displays a critical-thinking attitude,as well as a caring attitude,by:

A) Telling the client that she'll be back to chat after she sees her other clients
B) Calling the family to come and sit with the client
C) Trying to determine the reasons for the client's crying
D) Placing a "do not disturb" sign on the door to protect the client's privacy

Question 18

Which of the following characteristics do the various definitions of critical thinking have in common? Critical thinking:

A) Requires reasoned thought
B) Asks the questions "why" or "how"
C) Is a hierarchical process
D) Demands specialized thinking skills

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of practical knowledge? Assume all are true.

A) The tricuspid valve is located between the right atrium and ventricle of the heart.
B) The pancreas does not produce enough insulin in type 1 diabetes.
C) When assessing the abdomen, you should auscultate before palpating.
D) Research shows pain medication given intravenously acts faster than medication given by other routes.

Question 20

It is important for nurses to be critical thinkers because:

A) All clients are unique and have individual needs and differences
B) All nursing actions are based on theoretical knowledge
C) Nurses choose their actions primarily by following professional guidelines
D) Nurses provide care based on individual client preferences

Question 21

Select the answer that best completes the following statement: The primary purpose of employing the full-spectrum nursing model is to:

A) Assist nurses in testing psychomotor skills
B) Have a positive effect on a client's health outcomes
C) Adequately use all aspects of the Nursing Process
D) Assist nurses in completing their work on time

Question 22

Which aspects of healthcare are affected by a client's culture? Select all that apply.

A) How the client views healthcare
B) How the client views illness
C) Whether insurance will pay for healthcare services
D) The types of treatments the client will accept
E) When the client will seek healthcare services
F) The environment in which the healthcare services are provided
G) The ease of accessibility of healthcare services

Question 23

Caring is a central concept in nursing that involves which of the following? Select all that apply.

A) Treating all clients with a similar disease in exactly the same way
B) Responding compassionately to client needs
C) Acting in ways to preserve human dignity
D) Connecting with others to give and receive help
E) Using active listening

Question 24

The nurse has gathered her assessment data and notes several significant changes in the client's health status.The client's weight has increased by 5 lb over the past 24 hours,he is short of breath,and crackles are auscultated at both lung bases.To which step of the Nursing Process should the nurse proceed after organizing these data?

A) Diagnosis
B) Planning
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation