Running Head: Critical Thinking And The Roles Of A Professio

Running Head Critical Thinking To The Roles Of A Professional Nursecr

Critical thinking occurs when anyone researches a topic under study and later on completion come to a rational deduction on the theme. There are various ways people define critical thinking. In general, critical thinking involves not just blindly reacting or acting. Through critical thinking, one believes on a topic is established after research. Making a decision thus lays basis on the facts presented over a particular time.

Any individual should not base critical thinking with biases, using emotions or irrelevant consideration. Critical thinking involves various components that must be put considered to ensure efficient performance and decision making. Professionals should, therefore, inculcate all the elements in their daily activities. The description of a professional nurse opens the explanation below. People demonstrate critical thinking as not limited to decision-making or any problem solving.

The process of thinking is as essential as the results. The professional nurse uses this component in making observations, drawing conclusions, creating information and ideas, evaluating, and improving their knowledge base. The National League for Nursing (NLN), takes critical thinking essential. He should, therefore, analyze and evaluate outcomes carefully before any conclusion. NLN added critical thinking as mandatory criteria for giving accreditation for nursing schools.

The thought process guiding any professional nurse must be purposeful, organized and disciplined. It is because nursing decisions often affect patients' lives. The specialized nurse should always attuned to his values, beliefs and personal experience in any medical activity. Application of this component of critical thinking helps him to trust his instincts and feelings towards offering services to patients. Based on his experience in the field of medicine, he works to the best of his ability ensuring that the health of the patients is paramount.

He should also know all the sources of information about the patient before any treatment. Dealing with situations of life and death requires much attention. A professional nurse should always desire to work as a team in handling such serious issues. Therefore before making any initial move, he should consult other colleagues to ensure effective critical thinking (LeMone & Burke, 2008). As a nurse, a component of critical thinking entails challenging of assumptions that is unavoidable throughout the career.

A professional nurse finds himself in situations where he has to probe and clarify the questions. The reason behind this is to be able to assess the implications, assumptions, and consequences. The nurse is now in a position to evaluate the evidence towards the patient against the established standards and criteria. It is at the discretion of the nurse to ensure that the patients have total trust in the professionalism portrayed by the nurse during any particular medication guidelines and direction (LeMone, Burke & Bauldoff, 2011). The nurse tasked with the responsibility of arguments consideration whereby he has to respond critically to situation during the profession.

The critical nurses should be able to think and evaluate issues beyond the facts and the broadly accepted deductions. Some of the conclusions are unnecessarily accurate and therefore the nurse has no alternative but to derive professional decision during the treatment processes. The information usually vary from one person to another regarding the opinions of treatment of symptoms and signs of particular illnesses. The nurse should consider the guidelines of the profession to able to respond appropriately to the requirements of the patients to ensure they get the treatment they deserve without any implications. In the profession of nursing, high critical thinking is crucial in the sense of consideration of alternatives.

The nurses should think open mindedly as he attends the patients to ensure that any one among the feasible signs and symptoms is distinguishable. By so doing, the nurse delivers the best services to the patients (Schmehl, 2014). Conclusion The overall aspect of Critical thinking usually plays an intriguing and pertinent role in different sectors of expertise as depicted by the nursing profession. It is the back bone of every decision made for the outstanding performance within a particular profession. Therefore, it is unescapable to utilize the skills involving the critical thinking for one to succeed in life. Individuals should apply the skills at home, in communication as well as in the different situations of their daily activities.

Paper For Above instruction

Critical thinking is an essential cognitive process that significantly influences professional nursing practice. It involves deliberate, reflective, and disciplined thought, enabling nurses to make informed decisions that directly impact patient care and outcomes. As a cornerstone of nursing professionalism, critical thinking integrates analytical skills, ethical considerations, and evidence-based practice, fostering a higher standard of care and patient safety.

Understanding critical thinking in nursing requires recognizing its multifaceted nature. Fundamentally, it involves questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence, and considering alternative solutions. Carper's (1978) patterns of knowing—empirical, aesthetic, personal, and ethical—highlight the importance of such evaluative processes in clinical judgment. Nurses employ these dimensions to develop comprehensive perspectives on patient health, ensuring that interventions are tailored and judicious.

The role of critical thinking extends beyond mere decision-making; it encompasses problem-solving, clinical reasoning, and ethical deliberation. According to Benner (2001), nurses transition from novice to expert levels through cultivating intuitive critical judgment, heavily reliant on experiential knowledge. This progression emphasizes the importance of reflective practice and continuous learning as vital components of critical thinking development in nursing.

In practical settings, critical thinking in nursing manifests through thorough patient assessments, evidence-based intervention planning, and evaluation of outcomes. A nurse must analyze complex situations, often involving life-and-death decisions, with discipline and purpose. For instance, ensuring accurate data collection, questioning initial impressions, and considering all potential causes of a patient's symptoms exemplify critical engagement (LeMone & Burke, 2008). Such vigilance helps prevent errors and enhances patient safety.

Applying critical thinking also involves ethical reasoning, where nurses must weigh moral principles like autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. These principles guide decisions in difficult situations, especially when evidence is ambiguous or conflicting. For example, respecting a patient's wishes while adhering to medical best practices requires critical ethical analysis, ensuring that actions align with both professional standards and patient rights (Benner et al., 2010).

Furthermore, critical thinking fosters teamwork and collaborative practice. Effective communication, shared decision-making, and respect for diverse perspectives enhance patient outcomes. Nurses consult colleagues, challenge assumptions, and validate findings—all integral to a culture of safety and continuous improvement. Interprofessional collaboration, grounded in critical reasoning, ensures a holistic approach to complex health issues (Schmidt & Rooda, 2014).

In education, nursing curricula increasingly emphasize critical thinking skills, recognizing their importance for competent practice. Strategies such as case studies, simulations, and reflective journaling promote analytical abilities and ethical sensitivity. The National League for Nursing (NLN) underscores critical thinking as a criterion for accreditation, signaling its vital role in preparing future nurses who can adapt to rapidly changing healthcare environments (NLN, 2011).

Challenges to critical thinking include cognitive biases, emotional influences, and time constraints. Nurses must be vigilant against premature closure, stereotyping, and emotional exhaustion—factors that impair judgment. Developing mindfulness and self-awareness are strategies to mitigate these impediments, ensuring clarity and objectivity in clinical decisions (Dewey, 1910; Tanner, 2006).

In conclusion, critical thinking is fundamental to the professionalism and efficacy of nursing practice. It empowers nurses to deliver safe, ethical, and patient-centered care, adapting to complex situations with confidence and clarity. Ongoing education, reflective practice, and institutional support are essential to foster critical thinking skills, ultimately enhancing healthcare quality and patient satisfaction.

References

• Benner, P. (2001). From Novice to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice. Prentice Hall.
• Benner, P., Tanner, C., & Chelsea, S. (2010). Expertise in Nursing Practice: Caring, Clinical Judgment & Ethics. Springer Publishing.
• Carper, B. A. (1978). Fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing. Advances in Nursing Science, 1(1), 13-23.
• Dewey, J. (1910). How We Think. D.C. Heath & Co.
• LaMone, P., & Burke, K. M. (2008). Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking in Client Care. Pearson Prentice Hall.
• LaMone, P., Burke, K. M., & Bauldoff, G. (2011). Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking in Patient Care. Pearson.
• National League for Nursing (NLN). (2011). Critical thinking in nursing research. Journal of Nursing Education, 50(3), 123-130.
• Schmidt, N. A., & Rooda, L. A. (2014). Leadership and management in nursing. Elsevier Saunders.
• Tanner, C. A. (2006). Thinking like a nurse: A research-based model of clinical judgment in nursing. Journal of Nursing Education, 45(6), 204-211.