CHAPTER 1
CRITICAL THINKING AND
THE NURSING PROCESS
AUDIO CASE STUDY
Jane and the Nursing Process
1. Assessment/data collection, diagnosis,
... [Show More] planning, implementation, and evaluation.
2. Jane was exhausted, failed a test, and was pulled in too
many directions.
3. Jane’s resources included a good friend, sick time from
work, and wasted time between classes that she could
better utilize. Your resources will be different, but they’re
there!
VOCABULARY
Nursing Process
Definition: An organizing framework that links thinking with
nursing actions. Steps include assessment/data collection,
nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Critical Thinking
Definition: The use of those cognitive (knowledge) skills or
strategies that increase the probability of a desirable outcome.
Also involves reflection, problem-solving, and related thinking skills.
Assessment
Definition: Gathering subjective and objective data to plan care.
Objective Data
Definition: Factual information obtained through physical assessment and diagnostic tests. Objective data are observable
or knowable through the health care worker’s five senses.
Referred to as signs.
Subjective Data
Definition: Information that is provided verbally by the
patient and referred to as symptoms.
Nursing Diagnosis
Definition: Per NANDA International, a nursing diagnosis is
a “clinical judgment concerning a human response to health
conditions/life processes, or a vulnerability for that response,
by an individual, family, group or community. A nursing diagnosis provides the basis for selection of nursing interventions
to achieve outcomes for which the nurse has accountability”
(from www.nanda.org/glossary-of-terms).
Evaluation
Definition: Examination of outcomes and interventions to determine progress toward desired outcomes and effectiveness of
interventions.
Vigilance
Definition: The act of being attentive, alert, and watchful.
SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE DATA
1. Subjective (symptom)
2. Subjective (symptom)
3. Objective (sign)
4. Objective (sign)
5. Subjective (symptom)
6. Objective (sign)
7. Subjective (symptom)
8. Objective (sign)
9. Subjective (symptom)
10. Subjective (symptom)
11. Objective (sign)
12. Objective (sign)
13. Subjective (symptom)
14. Objective (sign)
15. Objective (sign)
CRITICAL THINKING
This is just one possible way to complete a cognitive map.
2 Chapter 1 Answers
Could it be low
blood sugar?
Am I diabetic? Frontal area
Sometimes feel
sick to stomach
Mother is
diabetic
Patient's
perception
Where is it?
Useful other
data
"Sick" feeling Hard
Quality
Severity Timing
7–8 on 0–10
scale
Lasts 1–2 hours
once starts
Early in the
morning
Before meals
Food helps
Tylenol helps Hunger makes
it worse
Aggravating and
alleviating factors
Headache
REVIEW QUESTIONS—CONTENT REVIEW
The correct answers are in boldface.
1. (3) is a nursing diagnosis. (1, 2, 4) are medical diagnoses.
2. (1) is a medical diagnosis. (2, 3, 4) are nursing diagnoses.
3. (1) is correct. The nurse who keeps trying until the problem is solved is exhibiting perseverance. (2, 3, 4) are
incorrect.
4. (3, 4, 5, 1, 2) is the correct order.
5. (1) is the best definition. (2, 3, 4) do not define critical
thinking but are examples of good thinking.
REVIEW QUESTIONS—TEST PREPARATION
The correct answers are in boldface.
6. (4) is correct. Evaluation determines whether goals are
achieved and interventions effective. (2) is the role of the
physician. (1, 3) encompass data collection and implementation, which are earlier steps in the nursing process.
7. (1) is correct. The licensed practical nurse/licensed vocational nurse can collect data, which includes taking vital
signs; assessment is the first step in the nursing process.
(2, 3, 4) are all steps in the nursing process, for which
the registered nurse is responsible; the licensed practical
nurse/licensed vocational nurse may assist the registered nurse with these.
8. (1, 4, 5) can be observed through use of the five senses.
(2, 3) are subjective data that the patient must report.
9. (2) indicates that the patient is concerned about freedom
from injury and harm. (1) relates to basic needs such as
air, oxygen, and water. (3) relates to feeling loved. (4) is
related to having positive self-esteem.
10. (4) is objective, realistic, and measurable with a time
frame. (1, 2, 3) are all good outcomes, but they relate to
airway clearance, nutrition, and strength, not directly to
swallowing.
11. (2) is correct. The three parts of a diagnosis include the
problem (from the NANDA International [NANDA-I]
list), etiology (“related to”), and symptoms (“as evidenced by”). (1) does not include symptoms. (3) is a
medical diagnosis. (4) is not a NANDA-I diagnosis,
and the evidence is not related to dyspnea.
1
Answers
CHAPTER 2
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE
AUDIO CASE STUDY
Marie and Evidence-Based Practice
1. Thirdhand smoke is the dangerous toxins of smoke that
linger on hair, clothing, furniture, and other surfaces in
an area after a cigarette is put out. Marie learned that
exposure to these toxins can be neurotoxic to children
and can trigger asthma attacks in sensitive people.
2. Evidence-based practice is considered the gold standard
of health care.
3. Step 1: Ask the burning question. Step 2: Search and
collect the most relevant and best evidence available.
Step 3: Think critically. Appraise the evidence for
validity, relevance to the situation, and applicability.
Step 4: Measure the outcomes before and after instituting
the change. Step 5: Make it happen. Step 6: Evaluate the
practice decision or change.
4. Combination therapy with a nicotine patch and nicotine
lozenges worked best, although bupropion (Zyban) and
nicotine lozenges worked well, too. A Cochrane Review
found that advice and support from nursing staff can
increase patients’ success in quitting smoking, especially
in a hospital setting. [Show Less]