Characteristics of a Critical Thinker
Why is humility important for a healthcare worker?
Healthcare workers must be humble and aware of the limits in their knowledge. There is always something new to learn in healthcare. Being able to admit wrongdoing, listening and learning from others is very important for becoming a better healthcare professional
What type of problem solving can be dangerous for patients which involves testing and reevaluation?
Trial and Error
What method of critical thinking can help you find a solution to an issue?
Problem Solving
What are acronyms and acrostics? Give examples.
Acronym is a word created from the first letter of each word in a phrase.
Acrostics are phrases or sentences created from first letter.
You and a coworker are assisting a resident in the shower. You go to the resident’s room to get her sweater. When you return, you enter the shower room and see your coworker spraying the resident in the face with the water nozzle. Is this a type of abuse? What will you do next?
-Report to superior
-Physical abuse
-Comfort patient
Through past experience and data.
What type of problem-solving is based on instinct?
Intuitive problem solving
What are some questions you can ask yourself when analyzing patient info? Give 2 examples.
What is the main purpose of the patient's visit?
What important info was given by the patient?
What data can support info given by patient?
What is most important from the info at hand?
What message is the patient trying to communicate?
Short-term memory is very limited and does not last for a long time. Information is grouped into chunks. Grouping makes space for more info in short-term memory
Long-term memory is info that has been grouped and brain decides to forget or to store for longer time
You are caring for a person with an upper respiratory infection. You have been in the room assisting the person numerous times during the shift. As you leave the room, you cannot remember if you have performed hand hygiene. What action will you take? How could forgetting this skill harm the person and others?
-Immediately wash hands
-you can become the mode of transmission in infecting other people
-fair-mindedness
-autonomy
-perseverance
-integrity
-creativity
-humility
-confidence
Why is it important to evaluate after problem solving?
Evaluation lets you reflect on what you did. It can allow you to reassess and find out what can be improved and what worked well.
What is the definition of critical thinking?
A systematic way to form and shape one's thinking. It functions purposefully and exactingly. It is thought that is disciplined, comprehensive, based on intellectual standards and as a result well-reasoned
What is working memory?
Describes how the brain stores and retrieves information from short-term and long-term memory.
At a local nursing center, your coworker reports negative information about your work performance. The nurse approaches you about this information. How will you explain your performance to the nurse?
-Answer truthfully and describe your own view of your own performance
-provide facts to help description of the care you give
-ask other coworkers for inputs to see if the allegations are indeed false
Why is it important to be fair-minded when critically thinking?
Critical thinking should be based on data. Stereotypes and preconceived biases or notions should play no role in critical thinking.
What are the steps of basic problem solving?
1. identify problem
2. identify possible solutions
3. select the best option
4. implement the solution
5. evaluate the results
How is critical thinking important in healthcare?
What are the three phases of learning new information? Explain.
1. reception phase- take in info without knowing what it means
2. perception phase- give meaning to info
3. selection phase- organize and summarize thoughts if they are important or unimportant
You are assisting a person with range of motion (ROM) exercises. The person does not want to participate and tells you to leave the room. Does the person have the right to refuse? What will you do? Does the nursing center have to take action?
-person has the right to refuse
-reintroduce the action at a later time
-report the refusal (document)
-nursing center could be liable if patient is there for rehabilitation and recovery but nursing home does not fulfill the needs of patient
How can you improve critical thinking skills? Give 3 ways.
Clarify thinking- Summarize and organize info, be able to look at different viewpoints
Discipline thinking- What information is relevant
Ask meaningful questions- Don't be afraid to ask, ask questions to further understanding
Be willing to change your mind- Do not be stubborn, but think about different views and make the best decision
What are the 7 steps of Scientific Problem Solving?
1. problem identification
2. data collection
3. hypothesis formulation
4. plan of action
5. hypothesis testing
6. interpretation of results
7. evaluation
Name the four features of effective critical thinking in health care.
1. purposeful and result oriented
2.based on principles of healthcare practice, scientific method and evidence-based
3. guided by professional standards and ethics codes
4. self-correcting through reflection and desire to improve
What are the four C's that describe a successful study group member? Explain the C's.
Committed- Truly interested in learning
Contributing- Sharing knowledge
Compatible- Easy to work together with
Considerate- Arriving on time and unselfish
During morning care, a coworker is heard telling a resident, “If you wet your pants again, I will not lay you down after lunch.” What type of abuse does this statement represent? What should you do?
-report coworker (get a superior)
-could be mental abuse
-comfort/reassure patient