Critical Thinking in Nursing

By
Dr. Carol J. Green

Course Outline

Critical thinking skills are essential in today’s nursing environment. Are you prepared?

Become acquainted with critical thinking skills and attitudes — and pratice them – as you analyze the case studies in Critical Thinking in Nursing: Case Studies Across the Curriculum.

“As knowledge workers, nurses must be prepared to think as well as ‘do’ for patients. Use these realistic cases to sharpen your critical thinking skills before you apply them in clinical practice. Dr. Green’s carefully crafted questions will help you think critically about a variety of patient-care situations you may encounter as a nurse.”
- Judith Wilkinson, Ph.D., ARNP, RNC
Author of Nursing Process: A Critical Thinking Approach and Nursing Diagnosis & Intervention Pocket Guide

About the Authors

Dr. Carol J. Green is a frequent speaker to nursing faculty and practitioners on the subject of critical thinking. She is currently on the nursing faculty of Johnson County Community College in Kansas, where she teaches critical care and perioperative clinical nursing, renal, immunology, and critical care didactic nursing. She is the author of several publications and computer programs, including the Student Study Guide and Instructor’s Manual for Phipps’s Medical Surgical Nursing (Mosby) and Case Studies on Multiple Sclerosis (Health Sciences Consortium). Dr. Green is a Commander in the United States Navy Nurse Corps, Reserve.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course you’ll be able to:

1. Discuss the work of Adelaide Nutting.
2. Describe the work of Louise McManas in 1953.
3. Define critical thinking attitudes.
4. Compare intellectual humility and intellectual courage.
5. Compare intellectual integrity and intellectual perseverance.
6. Compare faith in reason and intellectual sense of justice.
7. Define divergent thinking.
8. Compare inductive and deductive reasoning.
9. Compare reflection and creativity.
10. Define clarification and basic support.
11. Discuss the findings and recommendations of an abdominal aortic aneurism.
12. Describe the findings of the blood work for the client in acute pulmonary edema.
13. Discuss the symptoms of the client with adenocarcinoma of the colon.
14. Describe the use of the Sengstaken-Blakemore tube.
15. Discuss the glucose levels of the client with complicated diabetes mellitus.
16. Define exopthalmus and photophobia.
17. Discuss the symptoms required for a pacemaker.
18. Discuss symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
19. Describe interventions for the neurogenic bladder of a quadriplegic client.
20. Discuss the CD 4 T cell count of the client with AIDS.
21. State the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in the 67-year-old woman.
22. Describe the sigmoid colostomy.
23. State which vital sign should be monitored prior to taking Lanoxin in the client with congestive heart failure.
24. Describe decubitus prevention and care.
25. Discuss the blood glucose levels for the 72-year-old retired teacher.
26. Describe the basic anatomy of the left lung regarding the client receiving palliative care.
27. State how tuberculosis is diagnosed.
28. Discuss Apgar scores as discussed in Early Postpartum: Vaginal Birth.
29. State if the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels for the client with an ectopic pregnancy are normal.
30. Discuss the usual size of an infant when the mother has elevated blood sugars from gestational diabetes.
31. Describe how skin turgor is checked in the client with hyperemesis gravidarum.
32. Describe normal fontanelles in a 4-day-old-infant, whose mother has postpartum depression.
33. Discuss positioning of an infant with gastroesophageal reflux disease during feedings.
34. State how Hirschprung’s disease was diagnosed 48 hours after birth in the now 3-year- old boy.
35. Describe an iron rich diet for an 8-month-old with iron deficiency anemia.
36. State the significance of a bulging tympanic membrane in an infant with otitis media.
37. Describe the peak and trough monitoring with blood tests when a 15-year-old client is receiving Vancomycin.
38. State the weight in pounds for the infant at birth, now in respiratory distress.
39. State the vitamin which enhances iron absorption for the client with septic osteomyelitis.
40. State what the nurse should observe for postoperatively in the 8-year-old child after a tonsillectomy.
41. State a common complication of third-degree burns.
42. Describe the Glasgow Coma Scale.
43. List safety precautions required when physically restraining an adolescent client with anger issues.
44. Define lanugo, seen on the client with anorexia nervosa.
45. Describe the excuses for behavior regarding the client with antisocial personality disorder.
46. Discuss discharge planning for the client with anxiety and panic attacks.
47. Describe the abnormal laboratory work for the client with delusional behavior.
48. Describe the diet required for the client with depression taking phenelzine sulfate (Nardil).
49. Discuss the use of fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac) for the client with depression and suicidal ideation.
50. Discuss the comments from the staff regarding care of the long-term client.
51. Discuss the importance of taking clozapine (Clozaril) on a regular basis.
52. Discuss the daughter’s behavior when caring for her 89-year-old mother.
53. State what should be said when you enter a person’s home and see a gun lying on the
54. State safety checks to be done when a client is in four-point restraints.
55. Define tardive dyskinesia and state what age group is likely to develop these symptoms.

Course Contents

1. Adult Health Nursing
    Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
    Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
    Acute Pulmonary Edema
    Adenocarcinoma of the Colon
    Atrial Dysrhythmia: Rapid Heart Rate
    Bleeding Esophageal Varices
    Breast Cancer
    Complicated Diabetes Mellitus
    Congestive Heart Failure
    Diabetes Mellitus
    Fluid Retention of Unknown Etiology
    Hepatitis B
    Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
    Hyperthyroidism
    Living with a Cardiac Pacemaker
    Multiple Sclerosis
    Renal Calculi
    Respiratory Compromise Following Hip Surgery
    Spinal Cord Injury
    Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
2. Community and Home Care Nursing
    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
    Alzheimer’s Disease
    Central Line Care
    Choosing to Die
    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
    Colostomy
    Congestive Heart Failure
    Crisis Intervention
    Decubitus Ulcer
    Fecal Impaction
    Health Screening
    Hypoglycemia
    Infected Foot Wound
    Medication Error
    Neighborhood Assessment
    Palliative Care
    Parkinson’s Disease
    Peripheral Vascular Disease
    Tuberculosis
    Urinary Tract Infection
3. Maternal Newborn Nursing
    Adolescent Mother and Attachment Issues
    Cesarean Birth and Recovery
    Early Postpartal Hematoma
    Ectopic Pregnancy
    Gestational Diabetes
    HELLP Syndrome
    Hyperemesis Gravidarum
    Induction of Labor
    Multiple Births
    Postpartum Depression
    Primigravida Labor
    Pueperal Eclampsia
    Teenage Pregnancy and Premature Labor
    Uterine Tear
    Vaginal Birth after Cesarean
4. Nursing Care of Children
    Acute Glomerulonephritis
    Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) in Premature Infants
    Cultural Differences and Breast Feeding
    Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER)
    Heroin and cocaine Addiction
    Hirschsprung’s Disease
    Immunizations
    Iron Deficiency Anemia
    Osteoseptic Arthritis
    Otitis Media
    Pneumonia and Asthma
    Respiratory Distress Syndrome
    Surgical Preparation
    Third-Degree Burns
    Traumatic Closed Brain Injury
5. Mental Health Nursing
    Adolescent Client
    Adolescent Depression
    Antisocial Personality Disorder
    Anxiety and Panic Attacks
    Delusional Behavior
    Depression
    Depression and Suicidal Ideation
    Eating Disorder: Anorexia
    Involuntary Hospital Admission
    Long-Term Care
    Paranoid Schizophrenia
    Patient-Care Giver Conflict
    Potentially Dangerous Home Health Visit
    Restrained Patient
    Schizophrenia

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