Biomaterial Database

Critical thinking and nursing education: perplexities and insights. 1991

J Kintgen-Andrews

University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Ann Arbor.

The impetus for this literature review was an exploratory study conducted by the writer which indicated that a sample of nursing students seemed to make no significant gains in the development of critical thinking over an academic year. Surprised, the writer undertook an analysis of relevant studies in the nursing literature focusing upon the following questions: Does nursing education impact upon critical thinking? Does nursing education impact upon clinical judgment? How do critical thinking a and clinical judgment relate? How do critical thinking and achievement in nursing education relate? This endeavor yielded mixed findings while reference to literature in the field of education produced several insights that help to explain some of the perplexities. Suggestions are offered regarding research and teaching related to critical thinking.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007600	Judgment	The process of discovering or asserting an objective or intrinsic relation between two objects or concepts; a faculty or power that enables a person to make judgments; the process of bringing to light and asserting the implicit meaning of a concept; a critical evaluation of a person or situation.	Judgement,Judgements,Judgments
D011340	Problem Solving	A learning situation involving more than one alternative from which a selection is made in order to attain a specific goal.
D012106	Research	Critical and exhaustive investigation or experimentation, having for its aim the discovery of new facts and their correct interpretation, the revision of accepted conclusions, theories, or laws in the light of newly discovered facts, or the practical application of such new or revised conclusions, theories, or laws. (Webster, 3d ed)	Research Priorities,Laboratory Research,Research Activities,Research and Development,Activities, Research,Activity, Research,Development and Research,Priorities, Research,Priority, Research,Research Activity,Research Priority,Research, Laboratory
D002983	Clinical Competence	The capability to perform acceptably those duties directly related to patient care.	Clinical Skills,Competence, Clinical,Clinical Competency,Clinical Skill,Competency, Clinical,Skill, Clinical,Skills, Clinical,Clinical Competencies,Competencies, Clinical
D003657	Decision Making	The process of making a selective intellectual judgment when presented with several complex alternatives consisting of several variables, and usually defining a course of action or an idea.	Credit Assignment,Assignment, Credit,Assignments, Credit,Credit Assignments
D004506	Education, Nursing	Use for general articles concerning nursing education.	Nursing Education,Educations, Nursing,Nursing Educations
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man