Critical Thinking is a complex process and new topic included for novice nurses. i hope this presentation will enhance and be helpful in understanding critical thinking

1. CRITICAL THINKING
Prof. A. Hamidhunniza
HOD , Dept of OBG
Nandha College Of Nursing

2. Critical thinking is a “purposeful, self
regulatory, judgment which results in
interpretation, analysis , evaluation and
inferences as well as explanation of all
evidential conceptual, methodological or
contextual consideration upon which judgment
is based”.
Critical thinking is an “ investigation in order to
explore a situation, question or phenomenon.

3. Critical thinking is defined as a “cognitive process during
which an individual reviews data and consider potential
explanations and outcomes before forming an opinion or
making a decision.
Critical thinking is a disciplined process of actively and
skillfully applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating
information gathered by observation, experience,
reasoning or communication.

4. The need for critical thinking in nursing has been accentuated
in response to the rapidly changing health care environment
nurses must think critically to provide effective care while
coping with the expansion in role associated with the
complexities of current health care system.

5. Critical thinking is substantially larger than the sum
of the total part of its, because it is a process that
promotes attitudes to continuously explore, redefines
or understand. It is associated with elements such as
knowledge, active arguments, reasoning, intuition,
application, analyzing, complex meaning,
identification of problems and value judgment.

6. • CRITICAL ANALYSIS
• INDUCTIVE REASONING
• DEDUCTIVE REASONING
• MAKING VALID REASONS
• EVALUATING CREDIBILITY
• CLARIFYING CONCEPTS
• RECOGNIZING ASSUMPTIONS
SKILLS IN CRITICAL THINKING

7. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
It is the application of questions of a particular situation to
determine the essential information. It is a technique one
can use to look beneath the surface, examine
assumptions. Nurses use critical analyses while receiving
a history or planning care.
INDUCTIVE REASONING
It involves generalization from a set of observations Eg;
the nurse who observes that a patient has dry skin,
sunken eyes may make the generalization that patient is
dehydrated.

8. Deductive reasoning
Making decisions based on the observation or proofs Eg; all
post operative patients are risk of developing infection. A
nurse may assume that has patient has undergone knee
replacement surgery is at risk of developing infection.
Making valid inference
Conclusions made from facts to make a statement that is not
known Eg; if the blood volume is decreased in shock the
blood pressure also will decrease.

9. Evaluating credibility
Credibility of information sources is an important step in critical thinking.
The nurse needs to ascertain the accuracy of information by checking
other documents.
Clarifying concepts.
Concepts are the views which represent the things in the real situation.
Concepts can be based on experience and other activities. Eg; if the
patient says to the nurse “ I think I have a tumour, the nurse needs to
clarify the meaning of tumour to the patient before answering.

10. Recognizing assumptions
The nurse need to recognize assumptions. Eg; some people believe
that the quality of life is more important than quantity of life.
Attitudes for critical thinking
Attitudes are important for critical thinking. A critical thinker has
several characteristics in common
•They use reason rather than prejudice
•self interest
•Think about what is being learned
•Look for relationship between concepts or ideas.
•Use reflection (self correction) as a part of critical thinking

11. TRAITS OF CRITICAL THINKING

12. INDEPENDENCE OF THOUGHTS
EGOCENTRICITY AND SOCIOCENTRICITY
INTELLECTUAL HUMILITY
INTELLECTUAL COURAGE
INTEGRITY
PERSEVERANCE
CONFIDENCE IN REASON
EXPLORING THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS
CURIOSITY
FAIR MINDEDNESS
REFLECTION
INITUTION

13. Independence of thoughts
Critical thinking requires that the individual think for themselves.
Nurses should be open minded about using different methods of
care not first the single way they may have been taught in
profession.
Egocentricity and sociocentricity
Critical thinkers must observe that their ego and social customs
should not affect their thinking. They actively examine their own
biases and brought the awareness while making a decision.

14. Intellectual humility
It means knowing the limits of one’s own knowledge. Critical thinkers have
in sighted to admit what they do not know. If she lacks awareness, then she
may consult experts. Eg; the nurse who does not know about the recording
of respiratory rate in critical care unit will consult an expert and practice
before performing any procedures.
Intellectual courage.
Intellectual courage means one is willing to listen and convey one’s own
ideas or views especially to those which may have a strong negative
reaction. Critical thinker will hear the ideas of other person and will make
judgment based upon learning rather than personal ideas Eg; some nurses
believed that allowing family members to observe an emergency would be
harmful and some do not behave in this. As a result, the nurse initiates
research that clarifies the family members can be accompanied.

15. Integrity
Intellectual integrity requires that individual apply the same knowledge and
belief as they apply to the knowledge and belief of others. Critical thinkers
question their own knowledge. Eg; a nurse believes the wound care always
require sterile technique but after conserving the outcome of clean
technique for some wound leads the nurse to reconsider
Perseverance
Nurses who are critical thinkers show perseverance in finding solution to
their problems. This enables them to clarify concepts in spite of difficulties .
critical thinkers try to find a patient. quick and easy answer, therefore
require a great deal of thought and research. Eg; one VIP patient is
admitted in the ward and visitors are coming frequently to meet the In this
situation, critical thinkers get frustrated but the still continues to work

16. Confidence in reason
The critical thinkers develops skill in both inductive and deductive
reasoning. It means believing in the rationale of every nursing
activity. As the nurse gains awareness in improving thinking,
confidence in the process will also grow. Eg; daily report writing and
dairy entry.
Exploring thoughts and feeling
Emotions can influence thinking. Feelings and emotions need to be
explored to determine whether they are based on reality or
interpretation. Discuss the negative feelings with a confidence and
examine whether the response was appropriate or not.

17. Curiosity
Curiosity means the eagerness going on within the mind.
Critical thinker is filled with question. The nurse may apply
these questions while performing a procedure such as
drawing of arterial blood sample, respiratory therapy
Fair mindedness
Critical thinkers are fair minded. This approach can help one
to consider opposite new points and try to understand new
ideas fully. New ideas could change their mind Eg; the nurse
listen to the opinion of all the family members young and old.

18. Reflection
It means thinking back and forth. This reflective
thinking can be acquired from past clinical
experiences, insight and meaning classified from
situation. It is the process in which the nurse begins
to compare and correlate with the experiences by
adequate reasoning and bargaining inference about
the situation . reflection helps in clinical improvement
and favorable outcome for the patient and family.

19. Intuition
It is a deliberate conscious action of understanding the
problem and finding solutions. Intuition develops only when
the nurses had good clinical judgment, intellectual skills and
expertise in the particular field. Intuition is effective only
when critical analyzing the participants situation with good
assessment skills and finding out the most appropriate
solution by making comparision from different problem
solving techniques

20. LEVEL OF CRITICAL THINKING
IN NURSING

21. Nurses ability to think critically grows continuously as they acquire new
knowledge in nursing practice. Critical thinking in nursing is a learned
skill that increase the quality of acre given to patient and improves
outcomes.
LEVEL 1 – BASIC CRITICAL THINKING
This is the early step in developing reasoning. The critical; thinker is a
learner and follows a set of principles given by the expert. Thinking is
concrete and learners does not have experience to anticipate
individualized care to patients. So critical thinker accept the opinion and
values of experts. If the learner is having weak competencies and
unfavorable attitude, then he or she may not be able to move to next
level of critical thinking.

22. LEVEL – 2 – COMPLEX CRITICAL THINKING
In this level thinking become more creative. The
critical thinker analyze potentially, problematic
situations, anticipate possible results or consequences.
The critical thinker start using his own reasoning
processes and separate himself from experts. The
thinker seek the true meaning of situation ask effective
questions and analyze solutions by its risk benefit rates
before realizing final decision making in patient care.

23. LEVEL – 3 – COMMITMENT IN CRITICAL
THINKING
In this level the critical thinker reflects his own
judgment and have cognitive maturity. Person is
accountable for decision making and analyze complex
alternatives of a problem. On the basis of judgment,
knowledge and experience the nurse support and delay
the action of patient care.

24. Barriers to critical thinking

25. Five most powerful barrier to critical thinking are
1. Egocentrisim
Egocentrisim thinking is a natural tendency to view
everything in relations to oneself. This type of thinking
leads to inability to sympathize with others or analyze and
evaluate various perspectives. Egocentric is self centered
thinking ie self interest thinking – self as centre of
attention.

26. sociocentrism
Sociocentrism is a group centered thinking. Shows thinking only
related to group and think or assume that one’s own group is more
superior or righteous
unwarranted assumptions
A belief that something is true without proper evidence or
justification.
wishful thinking
Believing something in true became ones wish is to be true.
Relativism
Thinking that truth is just a matter of opinion.

27. THANK YOU