Exam 4: Critical Thinking in Nursing

The nurse has received advanced orders for a patient who is being admitted from the emergency department (ED). The patient's name is Mr. Herman Goldstein. Trying to get ahead, of tasks, the nurse changes the patient's diet from "Regular" to "Kosher." When the patient reaches the unit, the nurse discovers that the patient is Catholic even though his father is Jewish. The nurse is guilty of giving in to which concept?

The nursing student is admitting a patient with abdominal distention and severe nausea. The provider orders the insertion of a nasogastric tube. The student reviews the procedure, gathers the supplies, and tells the instructor, "I'm ready to begin." Which critical-thinking trait suggests that the student is prepared for the task?

The nurse is preparing to restart a patient's intravenous line and discovers that the patient has no usable veins in either arm. When working to solve this problem, the nurse should carry out which action?

The nursing student is observing a staff nurse demonstrating a subcutaneous injection during a skills competency fair. The student tells the nurse that nursing textbooks indicate that aspirating for blood is not necessary. The nurse replies, "I prefer to check for blood, just in case. This is the way I learned to give shots and it works for me." The nurse's response is most likely related to which concept?

The nurse has finished a shift and is on the way home. During the shift, one of the patients attempted to climb out of bed and fell. When the nurse is returning home and is thinking about what could have been done differently to be prevent the fall, this would be an example of what concept?

The nurse is preparing to teach indwelling urinary catheter insertion techniques to a group of graduate nurses. Which teaching-learning strategy would the nurse find most useful in teaching this skill?

The nurse is taking an advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) recertification class. As part of that class, the nurse and other nurses in the group rotate responsibilities during multiple mock code exercises simulating cardiac arrest scenarios. The nurse recognizes what process is assigning the nurses to these different responsibilities?

A patient has been instructed in self-administration of insulin injections. The nurse observes the patient attempting to recap the needle and realizes that further teaching is needed. The nurse is applying which critical-thinking skill of the nursing process?

The nurse observes that a patient who recently had an indwelling urinary catheter removed complains of burning on urination and that the urine is cloudy and foul smelling. Based on this assessment, the nurse may reason that the patient has a urinary tract infection (UTI). The nurse comes to this conclusion using which reasoning concept?

The nurse is administering medications to a patient with high blood pressure. The patient states, "This pill made me so sick yesterday. Are you sure I have to take it now?" What action does the nurse take next?

The nurse knows that professional nursing requires a commitment to which reasons for lifelong learning?

A patient is admitted to a skilled nursing facility with a closed head injury. The nurse believes that the patient has been pocketing food in his cheeks during the noon meal although she has not found any food pocketed. The nurse refers the patient to the speech therapist for a swallowing evaluation. The nurse is using which critical-thinking component in making this decision?

The patient is complaining of severe incisional pain 2 days after surgery. The patient has Morphine ordered intravenously or by mouth. When the nurse chooses to give the medication orally, this is an example of which thought process?

When working on the ability to critically think, the nurse needs to develop a critical-thinking character that includes which quality?

The nurse completes the health interview and physical exam on a patient admitted with an infection of the gallbladder. The nurse reviews the medical record and compares the abnormal lab results to the normal standards. Which critical-thinking skill is the nurse using in this part of the nursing process?

The nurse is caring for a patient scheduled for a heart catheterization. During shift report, the nurse describes an overheard telephone conversation regarding the patient's HIV-positive son-in-law. The nurse recognizes that this information should be evaluated for which characteristic?

The nurse is caring for a patient who is suspected of having early stages of dementia and observes mild confusion, short-term memory loss, and restlessness. When the nurse conducts a mini-mental status exam, the nurse is using which component of critical thinking?

A patient arrives at the urgent care clinic and complains of vague pains in the legs and the nurse asks the patient to describe this pain in greater depth. The nurse knows this is a critical-thinking skill and can be developed in which context?

The nurse has been hired for a first job and is nervous about making errors in clinical judgment. It is important for the nurse to realize that clinical reasoning and the ability to make decisions in a clinical setting occurs at which time?

The nurse has been practicing for several years and has become an unofficial leader, with newer nurses asking for advice about patient care. They are amazed at how much the older nurse "thinks like a nurse." To "think like a nurse," the nurse must carry out which actions?