Introduction
To think critically does not mean just being critical. The most complete definition of critical thinking which I go along with, states that critical thinking is the process involving mind discipline and used for active and masterful conceptualization, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of information generated by, or acquired by experience, observation, reasoning, reflection, or communication, which serves as a baseline for faith and action (Defining Critical Thinking, n.d., par. 3). However, the application of critical thinking principles may require significant and conscious effort and creativity.
Main body
Knowing one’s type of intelligence is also crucial for improving the skills of critical thinking. According to Howard Gardner’s theory, there are nine different types of intelligence and since the human experience varies there can be no two persons with the same mixture of different types. As for me, the verbal/linguistic and interpersonal types are the ones most relevant to my way of thinking and processing information. Both of them are very important for nursing practice. From an article written by Margot Phaneuf (n.d), it can be seen that with linguistic intelligence traditional methods of training are unable to emphasize properly its verbal aspects, which are extremely important in healthcare practice. A warm and affirmative way of communication is an essential part of nursing and of the therapeutic relationship (p. 2), and although this type of intelligence is one of the most common, it may prove very helpful both in medical practice and for further development of critical thinking. As for the interpersonal type of intelligence, Phaneuf (n.d.) also insists that it is important in nursing practice because it inspires us to listen to a patient, team up with other professionals, work in family conflict management, arrange activities, and exercise leadership and organizational skills and responsibility at various levels (p. 2). For example, in my nursing practice, I often have to combine these two thinking skills to resolve conflicts with patients, to be convincing and persistent but at the same way gentle and able to listen and devote time to an issue.
Still, however strong one’s critical thinking is, the modern environment and society change rapidly, and it becomes an urgent question to change one’s cognitive patterns accordingly, especially when it comes to current nursing practice. Authors of the book “Critical Thinking TACTICS for Nurses” emphasize that modern systems are dynamically complex; everything changes constantly and old thinking patterns will not work with today’s reality and in the nearest future (Rubenfeld, Garcia, Butts, Scheffer, & Rich, 2014, p.338). Everyone’s thinking patterns need adaptation, and the most reasonable way is to make a conscious effort to improve the flaws and weak spots in their logic. For me, the most effective approaches to change would be thinking of wholes instead of pieces, and subsequently, thinking in a system would be better than thinking alone, because I tend to be individualistic and often “focus on trees, forget about the forest.” Also, it is important to consider the possibilities of failure, but still take the risks, because as the proverb says, “a rolling stone gathers no moss.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, it must be said that the development of critical thinking skills has become a vital necessity for many people working in the health sector. A book by Kozier et al. (2008) illustrates it this way – nurses use critical thinking while applying knowledge from other fields and subjects to medical practice, they deal with changes in stressful situations and environments, and have to make urgent decisions related to health care. When nurses implement creativity into their mindset, they become capable of finding unique solutions to specific problems (p. 209).
References
Defining Critical Thinking (n.d.). Web.
Phaneuf, M. (n.d.). Multiple Intelligences, A Theory That Can Be Applied to Nursing. Web.
Rubenfeld, M. G., Garcia, T. B., Butts, J. B., Scheffer, B., & Rich, K.L. (2014). Critical Thinking TACTICS for Nurses. Achieving the IOM Competencies (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Kozier, B., Erb, G. L., Berman, A., Snyder, S., Levett-Jones, T., Dwyer, T., Hales, M.,…Stanley, D. (2014). Kozier & Erb’s Fundamentals of Nursing Australian Edition (3rd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W., Australia: Pearson Higher Education.