Paper Example - Critical Thinking Assessment Tool

Critical thinking is applied in our everyday activities through a multi-dimensional approach. In the health care system, the process of critical thinking is employed since it is focused on family and patient care (Rubenfeld & Scheffer, 2015). Hence when deciding in regards to what can be used to improve the care and quality of life for the patients, critical thinking impacts the process to deliver quality healthcare. Nursing practices are typically defined by the quality, safe as well as reasonable care that is provided by nurses in the ward. Therefore, this paper aims to demonstrate how critical thinking as an assessment tool is applied in the health care system to attain these goals.

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A Precise Population That Should Use Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is critical and cannot be stressed enough when it comes to the healthcare sector (Rubenfeld & Scheffer, 2015). All the members of the medical society employ the use of critical thinking in everyday practices. It is imperative to note that nurses make up the most significant number of health workers, and this shows how important it is for them to excel in their practices. Additionally, the transition from licensed practical nurse to a registered nurse is a path that most of the nurses have followed in the development of their career. Therefore, the change in the role also required a difference in their thinking as well. The Licensed Practical Nurse is a role that is oriented. In contrast, a Registered Nurse is likely to delegate some work on top of these nurses being responsible for the assessment process. The change from LPN to RN required these healthcare professionals to critically analyze why these kinds of tasks are essential as well as evaluate their efficiency in the patient's care.

Cognitive Behaviours

There are various factors in nursing practices that impact an individual critical thinking process. For instance, genetics play a vital role; it can affect how a person looks at things, their self-concept, and their confidence while communicating and delivering their knowledge and skills on a particular issue. Emotions are the second factor that affects an individual thinking process as stated by the Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology. For instance, anxiety, anger, and disappointment can impact the way a nurse assesses a patient. Another factor is personal perceptions and generational values, which affect the nurse's critical thinking process in terms of assessment and the delivery of the best care for the patient.

It is, therefore, essential to note that different traits and behaviors influence the effective utilization of critical thinking in a healthcare worker. Each one of these traits must be combined with another one to determine if a person is a critical thinker. Creativity, flexibility, and confidence or the assurance of an individual reasoning capability are essential characteristics of a critical thinker (Whiffin & Hasselder, 2013). A nurse's confidence that the decision they make is the best for the patient, and their determination to stand by that decision is vital while advocating for patients. A nurse's flexibility to adapt to the changes in the patient's condition, whether positive or negative, is paramount. Creativity or thinking behold the obvious as well as develop rational solutions to complicated situations contributed to a great critical thinker. All these traits form the basis or backbone for the critical thinking process.

The population thunder consideration is the registered nurses that are transitioning from a different role that is the LPN. Therefore, the questions posed to evaluate their critical thinking habit of the population under consideration will be presented in a table format, as shown below.

Question The rationale behind the question

As a registered nurse, how does the role of an RN differ from that of an LNP? The question elicits a response that is founded on the contextual framework. An LPN nurse is focused on task-centered skills while the RN is focused on the entire situation, such as how various interventions, medication, and ailments affect the patients. This question assesses the mastery of skills and knowledge in addressing the patient's needs.

Justify how you will be able to address the patient's concerns to their immediate physicians. Do you believe that you will be able to advocate for their wellbeing effectively? This particular question appeals to the nurse's degree of confidence (Whiffin & Hasselder, 2013). In most health care facilities, the LPN reports to the RN. However, the RN reports directly to the physician. However, it is essential to note that doctors are not the most relaxed professional to deal with when concerns are presented. The nurse's confidence to stand up for the reasoning that they above about the patient's care can save a life.

What is your opinion about the patient's constructed plans? This question assesses the RN's ability to predict outcomes that are based on the patient's care plan. The plan is used to evaluate the patient's response or reaction to treatment.

In what way will you, as an RN, offer an explanation of your thought process regarding resolving an issue or problem? Logical reasoning is evaluated on the nurse's ability to explain an outcome by drawing upon the inferences as well as justifying them using objective facts. It is essential since all the decisions that are made by a nurse can be analyzed, and hence, they need to offer a reasonable justification for them.

Are you capable of owning up to different or minor alterations? Are you able to assess and reorganize the differences in a given situation? This kind of question appeals to a critical thinker's capability to discriminate, or in other terms, reorganize the differences or similarities is the scenario. This ability is crucial as it enables a nurse to differentiate the nuances of the evaluation that allow a nurse to customize the patient's treatment.

While transitioning to a new unit and role. How have your responsibilities changed, and how have you been able to adapt to the changes? The question is meant to bring the nurse a realization as to the changes that have been incurred in terms of their roles and responsibilities. Therefore, the question's sole purpose is to access the nurse's level of flexibility as well as their ability to adapt to changes and hence modify their thinking process from that of an LPN to RN.

If not sure about the patient's condition or treatment, what measures will you take to educate yourself? This question assesses the nurse's ability to adapt to the new role and not relying on the old procedures that they had mastered as LPN of asking the RN for an explanation but employs new methods to obtain the much-needed information. One of the essential aspects of being a registered nurse is to realize that continued learning it at the core of their responsibilities as analyzed by Practicalnursing.org. Responding to all the questions posed can reinforce all other critical thinking traits, in particular, the nurse's confidence.

Recently you have received a patient who, according to you, is not right. According to your gut, there is something wrong. In such a situation, what will be your action? This question assesses the nurse's ability to make decisions. As a Registered nurse, the intuition that comes from long-term experience with the patients, as well as an increased understanding of ailments and their reaction to medications, should not be ignored. This kind of intuition is essential to ensuring patient safety and improved outcomes (Whiffin & Hasselder, 2013).

Conclusion

The transaction from one organization to another or from one unit to the next or in this case from one role to another can be challenging for some individuals. In this particular case, transition from a Licensed Practical Nurse to the role of a registered nurse means a change in the nurse's responsibility as well as their accountability. Additionally, this change brings out new characters in the interdisciplinary team. The registered nurse is, therefore, considered to be a professional and has an increased scope of practice. In this case, the role of the nurse to employ critical thinking is more crucial as it forms the basis for improved care for the patients.

References

Rubenfeld, M. G., & Scheffer, B.K. (2015). Critical thinking TACTICS for nurses: Achieving the IOM competencies (3rd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

Whiffin, C. J., & Hasselder, A. (2013). Making the link between critical appraisal, thinking and analysis. British Journal of Nursing, 22(14), 831–835.

Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology. (n.d.). Registered Nurse - Critical Care Nursing. Algonquincollege. https://www.algonquincollege.com/healthandcommunity/program/registered-nurse-critical-care-nursing-part-time/

Practicalnursing.org. (2020, February 12). Transitioning to a Registered Nurse from an LPN - What do I Need to Know? Practicalnursing. https://www.practicalnursing.org/answers/lpn-transition-registered-nurse-what-need-know