Deck 2: Critical Thinking the Nursing Process

Question 1

The nurse is preparing to admit a patient from the emergency department.The transferring nurse reports that the patient is obese.The nurse has been overweight at one time and works very hard now to maintain a healthy weight.She immediately thinks,"I know I tend to feel negatively about obese people; I figure if I can stop eating,they should be able to.I must remember how very difficult that is and be very careful not to be judgmental of this patient." Which is the nurse illustrating?

A) Theoretical knowledge
B) Self-knowledge
C) Using reliable resources
D) Use of the nursing process

Answer 1

Self-knowledge

Question 2

In caring for a patient with comorbidities,the nurse draws upon 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.Which best describes these activities?

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

Answer 2

Full-spectrum nursing

Question 3

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

Answer 3

Nursing intervention

Question 4

During an assessment of a newly admitted client the nurse measures blood pressure,abdominal circumference,and pulse rate.Which critical-thinking skill is the nurse using?

A) Recognizing gaps in one's own knowledge
B) Recognizing the need for more information
C) Objectively gathering information on a problem or issue
D) Evaluating the credibility and usefulness of sources of information

Question 5

Which characteristic do the various definitions of critical thinking have in common?

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

Question 6

A nurse admits a patient to the unit after completing a comprehensive interview and physical examination.Which action must the nurse implement to develop a nursing diagnosis?

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

Question 7

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.The nurse should have a critical attitude because it helps the manager to do which item?

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.

Question 8

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 9

Which differentiates a nursing diagnosis from a medical diagnosis?

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 10

The staff development instructor prepares an in-service presentation on full-spectrum nursing for new graduate nurses.Which statement should the instructor emphasize as being the key point about this delivery approach?

A) It encourages collaboration when planning care.
B) It is a unique blend of thinking,doing,and caring.
C) It focuses on assessment as the cornerstone of care.
D) It relies on client responses to guide interventions.

Question 11

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

A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Plan outcomes
D) Plan interventions

Question 12

Which statement about the nursing process is correct?

A) It was developed from the ANA Standards of Care.
B) It is a problem-solving method to guide nursing activities.
C) It is a linear process with separate,distinct steps.
D) It involves care that only the nurse will give.

Question 13

The nurse developed a care plan for a patient to help prevent Impaired Skin Integrity.The nurse ensured the nursing assistive personnel changed the patient's position every 2 hours.In the evaluation phase of the nursing process,which 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 14

Which is an example of practical knowledge?

A) The tricuspid valve is 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 by other routes.

Question 15

A new graduate asks the manager to explain the purpose of full-spectrum nursing.How should the manager respond?

A) Provide care in the most cost-effective manner possible.
B) Minimize the use of overtime when providing client care.
C) Adhere to federal and state regulations when providing care.
D) Achieve safe,effective care and promote good patient outcomes.

Question 16

The nurse maintains eye contact while a client explains the symptoms of a current health problem.Which critical-thinking skill is the nurse using?

A) Separating relevant from irrelevant data
B) Listening carefully; reading thoughtfully
C) Organizing or grouping information in meaningful ways
D) Making inferences about the meaning of the information

Question 17

The nurse is assigned to care for a client with Guillain-Barré syndrome; however,the nurse does not understand the disorder.What is the best way for the nurse to address this gap in knowledge?

A) Talk with the family.
B) Complete the client assessment.
C) Research and read about the disorder.
D) Ask another nurse to explain the disorder.

Question 18

Which is an example of theoretical knowledge?

A) A nurse uses sterile technique to catheterize a patient.
B) Room air has an oxygen concentration of 21%.
C) Glucose monitoring machines should be calibrated daily.
D) An irregular apical heart rate should be compared with the radial pulse.

Question 19

Which is an example of self-knowledge if thought or stated by the nurse?

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

Question 20

Which 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 21

A new graduate nurse is having difficulty understanding the importance of "caring" when implementing full-spectrum nursing.What should the nurse manager explain to this nurse? Select all that apply.

A) Caring motivates and facilitates doing.
B) Caring ensures positive client outcomes.
C) Caring ensures adherence to the care plan.
D) Caring motivates and facilitates thinking.
E) Caring replaces steps in the nursing process.

Question 22

The staff development instructor plans a training session on full-spectrum nursing.Which concept should the instructor include in this information? Select all that apply.

A) Doing
B) Caring
C) Thinking
D) Collaboration
E) Patient situation

Question 23

The nurse manager documents that a staff nurse uses effective critical-thinking skills when planning and providing client care.What did the manager observe to make this decision? Select all that apply.

A) Documents client responses to care
B) Addresses the most acute client care issues first
C) Utilizes knowledge of past client care situations
D) Articulates potential solutions to client problems
E) Studies the pros and cons of individual interventions

Question 24

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) How the client will pay for healthcare services
D) The types of treatments the client will accept
E) When the client will seek healthcare services

Question 25

The preceptor explains full-spectrum nursing to a new graduate nurse.What should the preceptor include when discussing patient situation? Select all that apply.

A) Refers to the context for care
B) Includes the client's relationships
C) Addresses the resources for client care
D) Ensures the same nurse provides care to the client
E) Focuses on the patient's environment outside the care setting