Camryn Bunge
Indeed, critical thinking and evidence-based practices are core concepts in the nursing profession. As you have highlighted, both of them contribute to achieving positive patient outcomes. Yue et al. (2017) suggest that concept mapping helps nursing students to adopt critical thinking skills. It helps students connect new information to the existing knowledge and to integrate them during clinical practice. Therefore, while learning, nursing students need to practice concept mapping as it will help in the acquisition of critical thinking skills.
Reference
Yue, M., Zhang, M., Zhang, C., & Jin, C. (2017). The effectiveness of concept mapping on the development of critical thinking in nursing education: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurse education today, 52, 87-94. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0260691717300497
Feownna Cargill-Grant
Nurses play a vital role in ensuring patients live quality lives. Improving the quality of life of patients depends much on evidence-based practices (EBP). As you have mentioned, EBP entails the use of the best research findings to guide clinicians’ actions. For this reason, researchers must ensure they carry out quality studies that will generate viable results. Inaccuracies and errors while conducting research may lead to ineffective incorrect conclusions, which could have severe consequences. Therefore, students should learn the core concepts of the study, including methodology, sampling techniques, and data analysis techniques (Kazdin, 2016).
Reference
Kazdin, A. E. (2016). Methodological issues and strategies in clinical research. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-32022-000
Maybel Rey Valdes
Critical thinking is a thought process that focuses on the ultimate goal. As you have illustrated, nurses often find themselves in various circumstances in which they have to make crucial decisions. Some of the choices may decide whether or not a critically ill patient will survive or not. Therefore, apart from thinking critically, nurses should equally make sound decisions. Ludin (2018) identifies that critical thinkers are not necessarily right decision-makers; however, nursing should incorporate both critical thinking disposition and clinical decision-making.
Reference
Ludin, S. M. (2018). Does good critical thinking equal effective decision-making among critical care nurses? A cross-sectional survey. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, 44, 1-10. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964339716301902