What it means
The habit of thinking in an organized, purposeful way: gathering facts, asking what they mean, looking for what is missing, considering other explanations and checking one's own assumptions. In nursing, it underlies clinical judgmentKLIN-ih-kul JUJ-mentThe way a nurse notices, makes sense of and acts on information about a client to decide on the best care.Full entry and the nursing processNUR-sing PRAH-sesThe step-by-step method nurses use to plan and give care: assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate.Full entry : recognizing what is important, deciding what to do first and evaluating whether it worked.
For the nurse
Ask yourself: What is the most important finding? What could it mean? What could go wrong next? What should I do first?
At a glance
| Spanish | pensamiento crítico |
|---|---|
| Also written | critical-thinking |
Related terms
evidence-based practice
Care that combines the best research findings with clinical experience and the client's own wishes.
nursing process
The step-by-step method nurses use to plan and give care: assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate.
clinical judgment
The way a nurse notices, makes sense of and acts on information about a client to decide on the best care.
judgment
The ability to think a situation through and make sound, safe decisions.