Question 1

The nurse inappropriately assumed that the patient did not require pain medication due to a history of substance abuse.Which critical thinking concept did the nurse fail to use?

Accepted Answer

A)   Criticism
B)   Maturity
C)   Analysis
D)   Organization C

Question 2

The nurse asks another nurse for assistance when trying to determine the best way to manage a postoperative patient's pain.Which critical thinking attitude is demonstrated by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)   Humility
B)   Confidence
C)   Risk taking
D)   Fairness A

Question 3

Which statement is true about critical thinking?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is the same thing as the nursing process.
B)   It is moving from writing a plan of care to thinking.
C)   It is a haphazard method of providing nursing care.
D)   It is a continuous process characterized by open-mindedness. D

Question 4

The nurse becomes very skilled at feeding patients with dysphagia after working on a rehabilitation unit for many years.Which component of critical thinking allows the nurse to function at this high level of practice?

Accepted Answer

A)   Integrity
B)   Experience
C)   Risk taking
D)   Responsibility

Question 5

In a facility with an outbreak of Clostridium difficile,the nurse manager determines that staff members are continuing to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when caring for patients with Clostridium difficile infection despite the policy which requires hand hygiene using soap and water.Which step of the scientific method was performed by the nurse manager?

Accepted Answer

A)   Identification of the problem
B)   Formation of the hypothesis
C)   Investigation of the hypothesis
D)   Evaluation of the intervention

Question 6

Which action by the nurse demonstrates the use of fairness for critical thinking?

Accepted Answer

A)   Adherence to the six rights when administering medication to a patient
B)   Clarification of an unusually high dosage medication with the prescriber
C)   Effective pain management is provided for all patients regardless of background
D)   Development of a personalized swallowing precautions protocol for the patient

Question 7

Which action of the nurse demonstrates clinical decision making?

Accepted Answer

A)   The nurse performs a detailed health history and physical assessment when the patient is admitted to the unit.
B)   The nurse determines that the patient is at risk for constipation due to use of postoperative narcotic pain medication.
C)   The nurse applies a hydrocolloid dressing to the patient's decubitus ulcer as ordered by the physician.
D)   The nurse assesses the patient's oral mucus membranes each morning to check for candida infection or ulceration.

Question 8

The nurse carefully performs a careful physical assessment and health history for the patient,making sure not to miss any body systems.Which attitude for critical thinking is demonstrated by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)   Integrity
B)   Planning
C)   Discipline
D)   Diagnosis

Question 9

The nurse readily accepts an opportunity to become certified in wound care and ostomy management.Which critical thinking concept is demonstrated by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)   Maturity
B)   Analyticity
C)   Systematicity
D)   Inquisitiveness

Question 10

The nurse suspects that a patient is being abused by the spouse based on the presence of many unexplained bruises and the nonverbal behavior of the patient.Which critical thinking technique was used by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)   Intuition
B)   Humility
C)   Curiosity
D)   Fairness

Question 11

Which patient's need constitutes the highest priority for the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)   The patient who is waiting for discharge teaching in order to go home
B)   The constipated patient who has not had a bowel movement in 3 days
C)   The patient with sudden onset of slurred speech and right-sided weakness
D)   The patient who requires linen changes after being incontinent of urine and stool

Question 12

The nurse feels strongly that the patient may be suffering from physical abuse.The nurse reports the situation to protective services even though the physician insists that the patient is simply accident-prone.Which component of critical thinking leads the nurse to file the report even though the physician believes it is not needed?

Accepted Answer

A)   Fairness
B)   Creativity
C)   Discipline
D)   Confidence

Question 13

The nurse implements interventions to address risk for falls after noting that the patient is unsteady when getting out of bed.The nurse is using which skill in this situation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Medical diagnosis
B)   Scientific method
C)   Diagnostic reasoning
D)   Data collection

Question 14

The experienced trauma nurse determines that the patient may have suffered a cervical spinal cord injury as the patient is unable to feel or move the arms or legs.Which term best describes the nurse's ability to make this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

A)   Data collection
B)   Clinical inference
C)   Scientific method
D)   Standardized criteria

Question 15

Which action by the nurse best demonstrates independent thinking?

Accepted Answer

A)   Removing and carefully cleaning the patient's dentures every night
B)   Initiating swallow precautions when the patient shows signs of aspiration
C)   Teaching the diabetic patient how to self-administer insulin injections
D)   Actively listening to the patient when recording the patient's health history

Question 16

The nurse noted a rise in skin infections on the nursing unit.After a literature review was completed,a new bathing protocol using disposable wash basins and pH balanced skin cleansers was suggested.Which steps of the scientific process were used by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)   Identify the problem.
B)   Collect the data.
C)   Answer the question.
D)   Evaluate the results.
E)   Publish findings.

Question 17

A nurse uses personal experience as well as knowledge of body mechanics and medical equipment in order to determine the safest way to transfer the paraplegic patient from the bed to the wheelchair.Which critical thinking concept is demonstrated by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)   Evaluation
B)   Explanation
C)   Development
D)   Self-regulation

Question 18

The nurse comes up with creative methods to help soothe agitated patients with dementia when the usual approaches fail.Which term best describes the action of the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)   Concept mapping
B)   Diagnostic reasoning
C)   Scientific method
D)   Effective problem solving

Question 19

The nurse is caring for a patient who is having severe pain despite regular doses of narcotic pain medication.The nurse suspects that the patient may be experiencing neuropathy and obtains an order for gabapentin which relieves the patient's pain.Which term most accurately describes the action of the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)   Intuition
B)   Reflection
C)   Perseverance
D)   Critical thinking

Question 20

The new nurse keeps a diary to record experiences,patient encounters,and feelings when beginning work in the nursing profession.Which critical thinking action is used by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)   Professional standards
B)   Nursing process
C)   Concept mapping
D)   Purposeful reflection

Exam 8: Critical Thinking