Critical-thinking model.
CHAPTER 8 • THINKING CRITICALLY, MAKING DECISIONS, SOLVING PROBLEMS 101
The Carnegie Foundation’s call for reform in nursing education argues, however, that nurs- ing should move beyond critical thinking toward clinical reasoning and diverse thinking (Benner et al., 2009).
Using Critical Thinking The critical-thinking process seems abstract unless it can be related to practical experiences. One way to develop this process is to consider a series of questions when examining a specific problem or making a decision, such as:
1. What are the underlying assumptions? Underlying assumptions are unquestioned beliefs that influence an individual’s reasoning. They are perceptions that may or may not be grounded in reality. For example, some people believe the AIDS epidemic is punishment for homosexual behavior. This attitude toward people with AIDS could alter one’s approach to care for an AIDS patient.