Nursing Resources - Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking in the Nursing Program
The study strategies that helped you succeed in your prerequisite courses may not always work the same way in NURS 1010: Foundations of Nursing Practice. Nursing courses cover a large amount of information, and it is not realistic to memorize everything from lectures and textbooks. Instead, success in the nursing program relies heavily on critical thinking.
In nursing, students are expected not only to learn facts and procedures, but also to apply their knowledge to patient situations and make thoughtful decisions. Because of this, exams are designed to evaluate how well students can analyze information and choose the most appropriate action.
Critical thinking involves:
- Purposeful, goal-directed thinking
- Making judgments based on evidence and facts rather than guesswork or opinion
Application-Based Exam Questions
Nursing exams often use case-based or application-based questions, sometimes referred to as “NCLEX-style” questions after the national licensing exam. These questions may feel different from tests you have taken in other courses.
In many cases, several answer choices may seem correct. Your task is to determine the best answer based on the situation described. These questions often require you to think through priorities, patient safety, and the information given in the scenario.
Developing Critical Thinking Skills
Critical thinking skills can improve with practice. Strong critical thinkers often:
- Base judgments on facts and reasoning
- Support ideas with evidence
- Evaluate the reliability of information
- Learn from mistakes
- Ask “why?” and “why not?”
- Look for patterns and connections
Many students find it helpful to regularly practice NCLEX-style questions throughout the semester. Graduating CCRI nursing students have reported scheduling time each week to work on practice quizzes available through their textbooks or course resources. Becoming familiar with these types of questions can help you feel more comfortable with exam formats and expectations.
The questions typically follow a multiple-choice format with a question and four stems (see below):
EXAMPLE: The school nurse observes a group of school aged children playing on the playground. A child begins to cry and tells the nurse he was stung by a bee. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Inject IM epinephrine
B. Remove stinger
C. Apply a warm compress
D. Wash with soap and water