Critical Thinking

, Critical Thinking
Objectives

1. Describe definition, concepts and process of Problem solving, decision making and critical thinking.
2. Describe critical thinking skills and characteristics of critical thinker.
3. Relate critical thinking skill to problem solving and decision-making.
4. Apply critical thinking, problem solving and decision making in nursing practice, education and administration to ensure quality patient care.

Introduction

Nurse managers are expected to use knowledge from various disciplines to solve problems with patients, staff and the organization as well as problems in their own personal and professional lives. They are also constantly faced with the necessity of making decisions in dynamic situations. Critical thinking helps the nurse managers see all sides of an issue and look for different and exciting ways to solve problems. Problem solving is used inconsistently and often interchangeably with decision making in organizational functions. They are not synonyms although they appear similar and may in some instances depend on one other. However decision-making is a subset of problem solving. Decision-making within problem solving results when a dynamic situation is recognized, using critical thinking skills problem is identified and solution is sought. Critical thinking thus includes and depends upon decision-making and problem solving skills, which draw upon creative abilities.

Problem Solving can be defined as a process used when a gap is perceived between an existing state (what is going on) and between a desired state (what should be going on). A variety of methods can be used to solve problems.
? Trial and error method: often practiced by managers who lacks management expertise
? Experimentation, reliance on past experience, self-solving etc.

One practical method of problem solving is use of seven-step process:
? Define the problem
? Gather information
? Analyze information
? Develop alternate solutions
? Make a decision
? Implement the decision
? Evaluate the solution

Decision-making can be defined as the systematic process of establishing criteria by which alternative courses of action are developed and selected. Decision-making is a necessary component of leadership, power, influence, authority and delegation (John 1993). Decisions call for