The nurse manager determines that a new staff nurse is demonstrating characteristics of a critical thinker. What did the manager observe the nurse perform?

Question

1. Listening with empathy to a client who recently has been diagnosed.
2. Waiting for the medical team to determine the focus of the client's supportive care.
3. Questioning a medication order that does not appear to meet the client's needs for pain management.
4. Exhibiting a willingness to try alternate methods of addressing a client's care needs.
5. Practicing nursing in a culturally competent fashion.

Answer 1

Rationale 1: Empathetic listening shows the ability to imagine others' feelings and difficulties, which is characteristic of critical thinking.
Rationale 2: Proactive anticipation of consequences, planning ahead, and acting as opportunities and events require are characteristic of real thinking.
Rationale 3: Courageously advocating for others demonstrates attributes characteristic of critical thinking.
Rationale 4: Flexible changing of approaches as needed to get the best results is a characteristic of critical thinking.
Rationale 5: Sensitivity to diversity, expressing appreciation of human differences related to values and culture, is a characteristic of critical thinking.