Learning the skills to become a critical thinker is not easy, but the benefits are worth the effort. In addition to natural nurturing skills, successful nurses should also possess an ability to think critically. Though some critical thinking skills tend to occur naturally, others can only be attained through training and experience. This means the ability to identify a problem, figure out a number of solutions then identify the most appropriate among them to help resolve the issue. Critical thinking is referred to as the objective examination of facts that used to inform a decision. There are six main skills required for thinking critically; Creative thinking, which teaches someone to find new and unexpected solutions to different types of problems; Problem-solving skills, which teaches one to create a strategy and implement workable solutions; Reasoning, where one learns to how to develop compelling and persuasive arguments. Critical thinking skills will enable one to clearly and rationally understand the logical connection between concepts ( Tajvidi et al., 2014 ).
There are some critical thinking skills that are particularly important in nursing. They include; interpreting, analyzing and evaluating. Interpreting involves breaking down complex information and explaining it to the patient in such a way that can comprehend what is going on. It can be information on diagnosis, treatment plan or on how to take the medication. The other skill is analyzing, which involves examining a condition to determine the best course of action. The decision on how to proceed should be based on solid, accurate data. Evaluating requires that a nurse should determine if the data is reliable, relevant and credible. It also entails finding out if the projected results will be realized (Boss, 2016).
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Critical thinking is also important for nurses because it encourages them to meticulously question assumptions rather than accept them at a face value. It enables them to identify, analyze and solve challenges methodically and not by instinct. Nurses learn a lot of practical skills during their studies, but if they cannot think clearly or act rationally, they will not be successful in executing their duties. Furthermore, critical thinking informs the decision to prioritize and make crucial decisions that can mean the difference between life and death. Since being a nurse involves much more than having clinical skills one must learn to think their feet. A nurse is also required to think about the emotional condition of others, the technical skills acquired in school, theories and concepts in nursing. It will help them avoid making inconsistent, irrelevant and irrational decisions regarding patients and instead focus on clear communication. Without proper critical thinking skills, there will be many wrong conclusions which can be detrimental in the nursing practice ( Chan, 2013). ).
Nursing profession require a lot of discipline to help improve and sharpen their critical thinking skills. To progress in honing these skills, it requires steady growth, encouragement and the ability to self-evaluate without bias. One way to improve is through honing of questioning skills and questioning all assumptions to be specific. We make a lot of assumptions as part of our daily lives and even make decisions based on this information. If the assumption turns out to be wrong, it implies that the whole foundation has to be rebuilt. Therefore it is recommended that question all assumptions before embarking on making conclusions. Furthermore, for nurse to sharpen and improve our critical thinking skills, it is important to consider adjusting our perspective. It is also important to understand our biases because human judgment is often quite subjective. Therefore, it is essential to examine and identify our biases and know how they may affect our responses to situations.
Playing brain games has many benefits as they will help improve cognition, memory and problem-solving skills. Such games include Chess, Scrabble, Rubik's Cube strengthen one's ability to remember details, and read motives. Logical puzzles like crossword puzzles and riddles help to exercise the brain by activating different parts of the brain. Another critical activity that many nurses overlook is good sleep. At least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep is required to ensure that the brain is well rested and alert at all times. An often overlooked method of staying sharp and maintaining out critical skills is by exercising, solving problems and eating the right kind of food. Finally, to better utilize our critical thinking skills it is better to understand what our options are. We should put out all the options and go through their merits and demerits to help arrive at a solution. It also follows that surrounding ourselves with smarter people will keep us on our toes and drive us to improve ( Tajvidi et al., 2014 ).
Conclusion
Critical thinking skills should be embraced by all practicing nurses as they will help them become more effective in their roles. In addition to acquiring the skills, it is also important to keep the skills sharp by engaging activities that exercise the brain. Anything that can be done to improve the odds on decisions that result to either life or death of a patient are encouraged. When nurses have these skills, they can clearly explain how they arrive at conclusions and the reasoning behind their decisions. They can also monitor their thought process by reflecting on how they arrived at conclusions without bias or inaccurate assumptions.
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Boss, J. A. (2016). THiNK: Critical thinking and logic skills for everyday life .
Chan, Z. C. ( 2013). A systematic review of critical thinking in nursing education. Nurse Education Today, 33, 3, 236-40.
Tajvidi, M., Ghiyasvandian, S., & Salsali, M. (January 01, 2014). Probing concept of critical thinking in nursing education in Iran: a concept analysis. Asian Nursing Research, 8, 2, 158-64.
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