What the heck does critical thinking mean?
And are you doing it right in nursing school?
We'll answer those questions and more, in this video.
But before we get started, make sure you're subscribed to this channel so you don't miss
out on any tips to help you raise your grades and spend more time with your family during
nursing school.
Now, let's do it!
So exactly what is critical thinking in nursing?!
I know it's the one big question on your mind right now, so let's break it down.
Really, there's 2 parts to critical thinking in nursing, and those are: number 1: putting
all of the puzzle pieces together and #2: planning ahead.
Now let me explain what these mean, and I'll give you some tips for them as well.
And as you're watching this video, leave a comment below and tell me which critical thinking
tip speaks to you the most, and which one you're excited to try first.
Putting all the pieces together means that when you're at your nursing school clinicals,
or you're writing a care plan, or a paper on your patient, you understand the disease
processes, disorders, or health issues that your patient is facing, and you are able to
tie them together, and connect the dots with things like: what you'll need to assess for,
the interventions that should be done to help them, the medications you'll need to give,
and the patient education you'll need to do.
So critical thinking in nursing goes beyond just learning about heart failure, COPD, stroke,
and all of those other med surg disorders.
You'll need to understand all of that stuff, sure, but critical thinking in nursing takes
it one step further.
You need to apply all of that knowledge to your patient, and figure out how that disorder
relates to the other health issues they have, decide what you need to assess for, or figure
out what interventions should and shouldn't be done.
Now, if you want a deep dive into some critical thinking points to help you study or while
you're at clinical, to help you critically think through these things, then you'll definitely
want to check out the video we've got for you on how to critically think.
We'll pop up a card right here, and we'll also put the link to that video down below
in the description, so be sure to check that video out.
So let's walk through an example of this.
Let's say you have a patient who is overweight, has diabetes, and hypertension.
Now all 3 of those health issues go hand in hand.
So let's say this patient tells you, "I'll take my diabetic medications as prescribed,
and I'll be all better."
Is that really going to help solve all 3 problems?
NO!
So you need to be able to critically think through the pathophysiology of each of those
disorders, and connect the dots, so you'll know what to do and what to say.
In this case, sure an antidiabetic medication can help reduce blood sugar, but a healthy
diet and exercise should also be added to help reduce weight and reduce blood pressure,
and possibly an antihypertensive medication treatment as well.
So that's the first key to critical thinking in nursing: putting all of the puzzle pieces
together and connecting the dots.
Now here's my tip for you here: CONCEPT MAPS.
When you can write all of these critical thinking pieces out visually, it will really help you
to connect the dots.
So to do a concept map, you'll put the main issue in the middle, and then have all of
the related pieces connected to it.
And then you'll do the same for the next disorder, and the next, and it's just a really great
way of putting all of those puzzle pieces together.
So I definitely recommend trying this critical thinking tip out the next time you study.
Now the second part of critical thinking in nursing school is the ability to plan ahead.
How often do you get into a patient's room and you realize you don't have everything
you need, or you forgot the saline flush, or you've got the injection all ready to go
but you forgot your alcohol swab.
That's the second part of this: planning ahead so you don't get tripped up later, and have
to backtrack what you're doing.
So make sure that before you do ANYTHING, take a minute, think through what you're about
to do, and walk through it, and make sure you have your game plan down.
Now here's my tip for this: make a list of the most common things you do at clinical.
Things like assessing your patient, giving medications, doing wound care, things like
that.
Make a list of the most common things you do at clinical and then, for each of them,
write out what you'll need for each one.
So for example, for assessing a patient, you'll definitely need your watch, a stethoscope,
pen light and gloves.
So all of those things should be included under assessment.
So it will look like this, you'll have all of the different things you do at clinical
listed here (and this will vary depending on your clinical site), and then under each
category, you'll make a list of everything you need to bring into the room with you.
This will REALLY help you plan ahead and prepare for the unexpected, which is a huge part of
critical thinking.
And of course, eventually, the more you do this the better you'll get, and the more you'll
just be able to critically think through everything you need to do, and you'll automatically know
what to do to prepare.
You'll be a rock star!
So leave a comment below and let me know which critical thinking tip you're most excited
to try to take your critical thinking skills to the next level.
Thank you so much for watching this video friend, and I'll see you in the next video.