Critical thinking is a powerful tool that makes it easier for caregivers to realize their potentials. The “tool encourages medical professionals to think rationally, accurately, and clearly” (Gardner, 2003, p. 28). Nurses must engage in reflective thinking in order to make accurate decisions. The practice also promotes creativity. Nurses should implement critical thinking in each phase of the nursing process. This essay describes how medical professionals can implement critical thinking in every phase of the nursing process.
Assessment Phase
This stage is critical towards providing competent care. During this phase, nurses collect information and data about the targeted patient. Medical practitioners “must get the best information in order to offer quality support to their patients” (Black & Chitty, 2014, p. 27). Critical thinking guides nurses to get the right information from their patients.
The concept makes it easier for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to analyze, discuss, and address the issues affecting their patients. Nurses can use this tool to support the needs of their clients. Nurses can use the power of critical thinking to create new perceptions about the challenges encountered by their patients. This approach guides caregivers throughout the five phases of nursing.
Diagnosis Phase
During this stage, medical attendants examine the information and data obtained from phase 1. This stage produces useful ideas and conclusions towards supporting the targeted patient. Critical thinking can produce accurate diagnoses. The practice ensures every caregiver thinks accurately. Nurses should consider the issues affecting their patients.
Critical thinking can detect numerous mistakes and inconsistencies. The practice offers meaningful decisions that can produce quality outcomes. Nurses must also identify the fears and challenges affecting the quality of this phase (Black & Chitty, 2014). This strategy will be critical towards producing quality results.
Planning Phase
Medical practitioners should be aware of the goals and expectations of their patients. This phase focuses on the best ideas and practices towards producing quality results. During this phase, nurses must use accurate approaches in order to support their patients. Critical thinking encourages nurses to outline the best objectives and procedures. The approach also encourages patients to be part of the practice (Gardner, 2003). Nurses can use the concept to make appropriate decisions. The concept outlines the best procedures that can produce quality goals.
Implementation Phase
This phase is crucial because it deals with the challenges affecting every targeted patient. Nurses can use critical thinking to combine their ideas during this phase. Such practitioners should also work together with their patients. They should also involve different stakeholders during the implementation phase. Critical thinking promotes the use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in order to get quality results.
The practice identifies the most appropriate practices and concepts in order to produce the required goals. Critical thinking averts inconveniences, misjudgments, and miscalculations. The approach encourages nurses “to work as teams, identify challenges, offer solutions, and empower their patients” (Rubenfeld & Scheffer, 2006, p. 35). This fact explains why critical thinking can make every implementation process successful.
Evaluation Phase
The clinical nursing process is incomplete without the evaluation phase. Nurses should always evaluate the progress of their patients. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) should identify the effectiveness of their strategies. They should provide the best solutions to their patients. Critical thinking identifies the major challenges associated with the implementation phase. The “practice will produce better strategies to support the targeted patient if the first plan is unsuccessful” (Rubenfeld & Scheffer, 2006, p. 68). Critical thinking combines numerous ideas and evidence-based practices in order to produce quality medical outcomes.
Reference List
Black, B. & Chitty, K. (2014). Professional Nursing: Concepts & Challenges. New York, NY: St. Louis.
Gardner, P. (2003). Nursing Process in Action. New York, NY: Delmar Learning.
Rubenfeld, G., & Scheffer, B. (2006). Critical Thinking Tactics for Nurses. New York, NY: Jones & Bartlett Learning.