Critical Thinking
What is the definition of critical thinking?
Purposeful, informed, outcome-focused thinking that requires careful identification of the problems, issues, and risks involved.
What is the difference between ethics and morals?
Ethics is a system of standards or moral principles that direct actions as being right or wrong.
Morals are concerned with dealing with right or wrong behavior.
Nonmaleficence is the basis for rules. What are some rules that apply to nursing and nursing students?
Nursing students being prepared for clinical assignment.
Checking the temperature of bath or shower water
Returning bed to lowest position after completing care.
Providing care for your patients when their ethical principles conflict with yours
Using the 6 rights for giving medications.
Use of SBAR (Situation, background, assessment, recommendation)
What does the Nurse Practice Act (NPA) do?
Defines nursing practice, established standards for nurses in your state. Nurses need to know their legal duties and functions of the NPA to practice within the scope of the law.
What are examples and definitions of intentional torts?
Assault (unjustified attempt/threat to cause physical harm) and battery (causing physical harm/touching patient in way that caused harm without consent), false imprisonment and use of restraints (includes chemical restraints), defamation (libel = written and slander = verbalizing untrue or private information), physical and emotional abuse.
What is the difference between focused, nonfocused and all-or-none thinking?
Nonfocused thinking: brain is engaged out of habit without much conscious though, ie, taking vital signs routinely.
Focused thinking: Purposeful and outcome oriented.
All-or-none thinking: no further facts will be considered as mind is made up
What is the difference between ethics for nurses and the law?
What is an example of unethical and illegal nursing behavior?
Ethics for nurses is the expected behaviors of nurses.
Laws required mandatory observance by nurses.
Example of unethical and illegal nursing behavior is using a patient's narcotics.
What are some examples of beneficence?
Putting the patient's interests first: not going off duty before handing care over to skilled nursing staff (if don't = abandonment)
Own up to errors, ie, meds.
Going to work even though you wanted the day off.
Prioritizing, ie, patient needs come before meetings, etc.
What are some functions of the Board of Nursing?
License renewal
Application for licensure by examination/reciprocity
Approving schools of nursing
Carrying out disciplinary action for violators
Developing programs for impaired nurses
Suspending and revoking licenses and dealing with the appeal process
Establishing standards for educational programs
What are the different types of abuse?
Physical, emotional, mental/psychological, sexual, financial
What are some questions the critical thinker should ask themselves?
What information is needed?
What are the expected major outcomes?
How much time do you have?
What human and professional resources can help?
What is influencing my thinking?
What is the basic right of patients?
To receive considerate and respectful care from all providers.
What does autonomy mean?
Respecting a patients independence and right to determine a course of action. For example, encouraging patients to be involved in the planning and implementation of their care.
What are the nursing standards of care?
Guidelines for good nursing care.
Standard is based on what an ordinary, prudent nurse with similar education and nursing experience would do in similar circumstances.
What is informed consent?
MD's obtain on a written form and explains the invasive procedure to be done, the expected outcome, and possible complications.
What are some factors that influence critical thinking?
Collaboration with others (i.e., team meeting), effective reading, self-confidence, communication skills, anxiety, problem solving and the nursing process.
What are the ethical responsibilities of nurses?
Accountability and taking responsibility for own actions.
Patient advocacy
Colleague reporting
System based issues, ie, new procedures being implemented without proper training
What does fidelity mean?
What are considered breaches of fidelity?
Being faithful to the charge of acting in the patient's best interest when the capacity to make free choice is no longer available to the patient.
Breaches include HIPPA violations, talking about patients disrespectfully.
What is the difference between criminal and civil law?
Criminal law involves people and society as a whole.
Civil law involves individual rights and results in payment of money to the injured person.
What are Advance Directives?
Two written parts: Living Will which describes the type of medical treatments or life-saving treatments desired if seriously or terminally ill.
Durable medical power of attorney: names a health care proxy to make medical decisions if that person can no longer speak for themselves.
What are the cognitive levels and definitions involved in critical thinking?
Knowledge: ability to recall and repeat information
Comprehension: ability to answer questions in your own words and give examples
Application: ability to use learned materials in new situations
Analysis: ability to break down complex information into its basic parts and relate those parts to the whole picture
What are the principles of ethics?
Nonmaleficence: do no harm
Beneficence: do good
Autonomy: free to choose
Fidelity: be true
Justice: fair to all
What does justice mean?
Deliver fair and equal treatment to all patients, recognizing and avoiding personal bias. All patient should be treated with equal dignity and respect.
What is the difference between intentional and unintentional torts (a civil wrong)?
Intentional torts are intended to cause harm.
Unintentional torts do not have intent to cause harm.
What are the 4 elements needed to prove negligence?
Duty
Breach of duty
Damages
Proximate cause