how to study for critical thinking nursing tests

Test-taking tips

Use your critical thinking skills to ace your next exam..

• The key to successful test taking is accurately identifying what the question is asking.
• Carefully read the entire question.
• Nursing test questions give you all the information you need to know to find the answer the question.

By Debra A. Hrelic, PhD, RNC

Group work in higher education

Generational learning preferences

Teach-back: An underutilized tool

Test taking is a skill, whether you’re a student currently enrolled in a nursing program or have just recently returned to school after several years in the workforce. In either case, these tips will help you build your test-taking muscles.

Put on your critical-thinking cap

The key to successful test taking is accurately identifying what the question is asking. Don’t focus on the background information; think through the problem or situation as identified in the question. Wheth­er it’s a knowledge, application, delegation, or medication question, most questions are designed to test critical thinking. Several strategies will help you problem-solve your way to a correct answer.

Reword the question

Carefully read the entire question. Don’t rush through it or stop half­way through because you assume that you know what’s being asked. Reword the stem to make it easier to understand, and answer the question. Look for hints or key words, such as most , all , first , best , primary , initial , always, and never . On a paper exam, underline or circle those words so that you don’t forget them when seeking your answer; on a computer exam, write them on scrap paper.

Questions with phrases in the stem stating “ further teaching is needed ” may indicate that the answer contains incorrect information or has a negative connotation. For example:

The nurse has completed discharge teaching with the parents of a child suffering from atopic dermatitis. The nurse determines that further teaching is needed when the mother states it is most important upon discharge to:

a. Maintain a high-humidified environment to keep her child’s skin moist.

b. Keep her child’s fingernails trimmed short and with no rough edges.

c. Wrap her child’s hands in soft cotton gloves.

d. Dress her child in loose soft clothing.

The correct answer is “a.” Since “ further teaching is needed ,” you’re looking for an answer that shows what the patient got wrong. In this case, a humid environment would increase bacterial growth and cause clothing to rub and irritate the child’s skin.

The stem of an answer that holds positive or correct information might be worded like this: “ the patient demonstrates knowledge and understanding .” For example:

When a nurse is providing education to a patient newly diagnosed with diabetes, which action demonstrates learning has occurred?

a. The nurse presented information to the patient about diabetes.

b. The patient demonstrates how to inject insulin.

c. The patient watches a film on diabetes.

d. A primary care provider gives the patient a pamphlet on diabetes.

The correct answer is “b.” “ Learning has occurred ” is a positive statement, so you’re looking for a statement that demonstrates a learned action. “B” is the only answer where the patient demonstrates a learned behavior that’s related to what has been taught.

Choosing the correct answer may mean choosing among several answers that have some degree of correct information. This is where critical thinking especially comes into play. Go back to your interpretation of what the question was really asking, and the correct answer should be apparent.

Answer the question first

Try answering the question before looking at the choices. Decide what the question is asking, what you believe the answer is, and then go to the choices and look for it. If your answer is there, you can choose it and move on. If not, either reword the question or look for patterns and relationships in the answers. Do you see information in the choices related to what you thought was the correct answer? If not, go back to the question, reread it, and be sure you understand what’s being asked.

If you have an idea what the answer is, use that to eliminate incorrect answers. Read remaining choices to obtain clues. Reread the question and try to narrow down the answers by applying knowledge. Is the question asking for a course of action or a demonstration of knowledge? Look for clues in the question and in the remaining answers. Remember not to assume information. Nursing questions give you all the information you need to know. Don’t read into them, wondering, for example, whether the patient is or isn’t febrile. If it isn’t mentioned in the stem, then it isn’t relevant to the answer.

Eliminate wrong answers

After reading and rewording the question, read only the first answer choice. Does it answer your reworded question? If it doesn’t, eliminate it from consideration. If it does or if you’re not sure, keep it as a possibility. Follow this method with each of the remaining three choices, eliminating those that don’t answer the question. This technique eventually will leave you with only one choice.

Time is of the essence

You may be wondering if you’ll have time to follow these steps with each question. The answer is almost always yes. Most students waste time staring at and rereading questions they don’t understand rather than following these simple steps and using their critical-thinking skills. (See Don’t panic, strategize .)

If you have concerns about any questions and you’re taking a paper exam, mark them to come back to after completing everything else. However, keep these caveats in mind: If you’re filling out a form where you fill in circles with your answers, you may forget to leave a circle blank for the skipped question you want to revisit. The grading of your entire test may be thrown off, resulting in failure. Also, skipping a question on a computerized test to return to later may not be an option.

NCLEX-RN® preparation

The computerized National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), the entry-to-practice examination for RNs in the United States, is organized into four categories of patient need to define nursing actions and competencies: safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. (See NCLEX-RN categories .)

Most of the questions on the NCLEX-RN exam are multiple choice. You’ll also encounter alternative-format questions such as multiple response, fill-in-the-blank, ordered response, and hot spots (which require you to identify and click on a specific area of the body [hot spot] on a graphic with your mouse). Questions may include charts, tables, graphics, sound, or video. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website has information about item formats with examples.

Every nursing class and every exam you take in school helps prepare you for taking your NCLEX-RN. And studies show that nursing students who complete between 400 to 500 NCLEX-style review questions for each class they take are better prepared for nursing class exams and are more likely to pass their NCLEX-RN examination.

The more you practice taking NCLEX-type exams, the better you do on them and the less anxious you’ll feel while taking them. You can find practice questions relevant to all areas of nursing in NCLEX-RN preparation books and online. You also can use smartphone, computer, and tablet apps. Check with faculty and local and school libraries for additional resources and recommendations. Some students share preparation books, trading them from class to class.

Ace your next test

Whether you’re a practicing nurse or a student, use your critical-thinking skills and these tips to ace your next test. (See Strategies for success .)

Debra A. Hrelic is the RN-BSN program coordinator at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington.

Selected reference

National Council of State Boards of Nursing. NCLEX-RN® Examination: Detailed Test Plan . April 2016.

NCLEX strategies: Critical thinking & rewording questions . Kaplan Test Prep.

NCLEX-RN® question types . Kaplan Test Prep.

3 Comments .

What would you reccomend if a child can’t concentrate while doing a test?

Knowing and understanding the contents of the exam by heart is important but most people overlook preparing for “how” they’re gonna take the exam and what approach would they take in answering it. Knowing how to go through questions and answering them efficiently would help increase your chances of scoring high.

I’m going to be taking some summer classes next year as I’m saving up for tuition now. Anyways, I know that there will be tests and quizzes so I’ll for sure have to study hard for them. As you said, there will probably be some multiple-choice questions which of course, I’ll have to pay extra attention to as they make you think outside the box quite a bit.

Comments are closed.

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What is Critical Thinking in Nursing? (With Examples, Importance, & How to Improve)

Successful nursing requires learning several skills used to communicate with patients, families, and healthcare teams. One of the most essential skills nurses must develop is the ability to demonstrate critical thinking. If you are a nurse, perhaps you have asked if there is a way to know how to improve critical thinking in nursing? As you read this article, you will learn what critical thinking in nursing is and why it is important. You will also find 18 simple tips to improve critical thinking in nursing and sample scenarios about how to apply critical thinking in your nursing career.

What Is Critical Thinking In Nursing?

4 reasons why critical thinking is so important in nursing, 1. critical thinking skills will help you anticipate and understand changes in your patient’s condition., 2. with strong critical thinking skills, you can make decisions about patient care that is most favorable for the patient and intended outcomes., 3. strong critical thinking skills in nursing can contribute to innovative improvements and professional development., 4. critical thinking skills in nursing contribute to rational decision-making, which improves patient outcomes., what are the 8 important attributes of excellent critical thinking in nursing, 1. the ability to interpret information:, 2. independent thought:, 3. impartiality:, 4. intuition:, 5. problem solving:, 6. flexibility:, 7. perseverance:, 8. integrity:, examples of poor critical thinking vs excellent critical thinking in nursing, 1. scenario: patient/caregiver interactions, poor critical thinking:, excellent critical thinking:, 2. scenario: improving patient care quality, 3. scenario: interdisciplinary collaboration, 4. scenario: precepting nursing students and other nurses, how to improve critical thinking in nursing, 1. demonstrate open-mindedness., 2. practice self-awareness., 3. avoid judgment., 4. eliminate personal biases., 5. do not be afraid to ask questions., 6. find an experienced mentor., 7. join professional nursing organizations., 8. establish a routine of self-reflection., 9. utilize the chain of command., 10. determine the significance of data and decide if it is sufficient for decision-making., 11. volunteer for leadership positions or opportunities., 12. use previous facts and experiences to help develop stronger critical thinking skills in nursing., 13. establish priorities., 14. trust your knowledge and be confident in your abilities., 15. be curious about everything., 16. practice fair-mindedness., 17. learn the value of intellectual humility., 18. never stop learning., 4 consequences of poor critical thinking in nursing, 1. the most significant risk associated with poor critical thinking in nursing is inadequate patient care., 2. failure to recognize changes in patient status:, 3. lack of effective critical thinking in nursing can impact the cost of healthcare., 4. lack of critical thinking skills in nursing can cause a breakdown in communication within the interdisciplinary team., useful resources to improve critical thinking in nursing, youtube videos, my final thoughts, frequently asked questions answered by our expert, 1. will lack of critical thinking impact my nursing career, 2. usually, how long does it take for a nurse to improve their critical thinking skills, 3. do all types of nurses require excellent critical thinking skills, 4. how can i assess my critical thinking skills in nursing.

• Ask relevant questions • Justify opinions • Address and evaluate multiple points of view • Explain assumptions and reasons related to your choice of patient care options

5. Can I Be a Nurse If I Cannot Think Critically?

Nursing Test Bank and Nursing Practice Questions for Free

Are you looking for a reliable study resources to help you ace your nursing exams? Look no further than our nursing test banks! Our nursing test bank includes over 6,500 nursing practice questions covering a wide range of nursing topics from medical- surgical nursing to nursing pharmacology and more! These test banks are absolutely free and no registration is required!

Answer all of our mock exams to help you prepare and review for any nursing school exams (including NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN ). Studying from our nursing test banks can help you become familiar with the types of questions that you may encounter on your exams. These test banks are a helpful study resource for nursing students especially when used in conjunction with our other study materials .

Our goal is to provide aspiring nurses with free resources and help them become registered nurses. We hope our high-quality exam-style questions will help you boost your confidence and knowledge to ace your exams!

Table of Contents

What are nursing test banks, select all that apply, prioritization, delegation, and assignment, arterial blood gas (abg) analysis, safety and infection control nursing test banks, dosage calculations, iv flow rate calculations, fundamentals of nursing test bank, newborn nursing care & assessment, pediatric nursing, anatomy and physiology, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular disorders, respiratory disorders, neurological disorders nursing test bank, gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes mellitus, urinary disorders, reproductive disorders, burns and burn injury management, homeostasis: fluids and electrolytes, cancer and oncology nursing, emergency nursing, eyes, ears, nose, and throat and sleep disorders, growth and development, therapeutic communication, leadership and management in nursing, nursing research nursing test bank, nclex-pn nursing test bank, test-taking strategies and tips, recommended resources.

Nursing test banks are a collection of questions and answers that are relevant to the nursing field. These questions are often used by nursing instructors as a basis for exams, and they can also be used by nursing students to study and prepare for their exams. Using a nursing test bank can greatly improve your chances of success on your nursing exams.

Quiz Guidelines

Before you start, here are some examination guidelines and reminders you must read:

• Practice Exams : Engage with our Practice Exams to hone your skills in a supportive, low-pressure environment. These exams provide immediate feedback and explanations, helping you grasp core concepts, identify improvement areas, and build confidence in your knowledge and abilities.
• You’re given 2 minutes per item.
• For Challenge Exams, click on the “Start Quiz” button to start the quiz.
• Complete the quiz : Ensure that you answer the entire quiz. Only after you’ve answered every item will the score and rationales be shown.
• Learn from the rationales : After each quiz, click on the “View Questions” button to understand the explanation for each answer.
• Free access : Guess what? Our test banks are 100% FREE. Skip the hassle – no sign-ups or registrations here. A sincere promise from Nurseslabs: we have not and won’t ever request your credit card details or personal info for our practice questions. We’re dedicated to keeping this service accessible and cost-free, especially for our amazing students and nurses. So, take the leap and elevate your career hassle-free!
• Share your thoughts : We’d love your feedback, scores, and questions! Please share them in the comments below.

NCLEX-RN Nursing Test Bank

Everything related to the NCLEX-RN ! These NCLEX-RN practice questions are great to simulate the actual exams from random nursing topics with varying difficulty. Includes 30 quizzes with 30 questions each. Are you ready for the challenge?

NEW UPDATE: Introducing Challenge Exams and Practice Exams

Engage with these new modes to enhance your learning journey, each tailored to meet different needs and propel you towards academic achievement.

• Dive into Practice Exam Mode for a supportive learning experience. Here, real-time feedback aids in understanding core concepts and building confidence. It’s your space for growth and preparation.
• Step up to Challenge Exam Mode to test your mastery. With rigorous questions, a leaderboard, and a timer, it’s designed to assess your readiness and foster a competitive spirit.

Test your mastery with these Challenge Exams :

Build your confidence and grasp core concepts with these Practice Exams :

Nursing test bank questions that will help you familiarize and tame the dreaded SATA questions of the NCLEX.

This nursing test bank includes four quizzes and 100 practice questions about prioritization, delegation, and assignment. These common NCLEX questions are challenging to answer, but you will ace them with enough practice using the questions below!

A special set of nursing school test bank questions dedicated to the interpretation of arterial blood gas. See also our arterial blood gas interpretation technique using the tic-tac-toe method .

According to the NCLEX-RN test plan, about 9 to 15% of questions will come from this subcategory that includes content about the “ nurse ‘s ability required to protect clients, families, and healthcare personnel from health and environmental hazards.

Nursing Pharmacology Test Banks

Updated nursing test bank questions related to nursing pharmacology and administration of medication. Includes comprehensive quiz about nursing pharmacology concepts and specialized exams about cardiovascular, psychiatric, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and endocrine drugs.

We have consolidated our practice questions for drug dosage calculations in this set, divided into four parts to test your skills in dosage calculations. In this nursing test bank, practice  dosage calculation  problems to measure your competence in nursing math.

Practice your calculation skills on intravenous flow rate with this nursing test bank set. Includes questions about intravenous flow rate calculations, intravenous medication dosage calculations.

Comprehensive nursing practice questions related to fundamentals of nursing and basic nursing concepts.

Maternity Nursing Test Banks

All questions in this nursing test bank are related to maternal and child health nursing, obstetric nursing, and maternity nursing.

This nursing test bank set covers topics related to nursing care of the newborn and assessment .

A new set of nursing test bank questions related to pediatric clients’ nursing care and disorders.

Medical-Surgical Nursing Test Bank

A large number of nursing test bank questions related to medical-surgical nursing.

New nursing test banks all about anatomy and physiology of the human body.

Our newest nursing test bank covering the nursing care of patients with musculoskeletal system disorders.

Newly updated nursing test bank questions about the nursing care of patients with cardiovascular system disorders. Topics include: care of patients with cardiovascular disorders such as: dysrhythmias, hypertension , coronary artery disease , heart failure , valvular diseases, myocardial infarction , and peripheral vascular diseases.

Nursing test bank questions related to care of patients with respiratory system disorders like the nursing care management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma , pneumonia , pleural effusion, and other respiratory system disorders.

Nursing test bank questions related to the nervous system. Question content of these nursing test banks includes nursing care management of patients with neurological disorders such as stroke , multiple sclerosis , seizures, traumatic brain injury , spinal cord injuries, and more.

Practice questions related to the gastrointestinal system and its disorders. Topics include care of patients with pancreatitis , ostomy care, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, liver failure, liver disorders, appendicitis , hiatal hernia , esophageal disorders, hepatitis , and more.

Endocrine Disorders

Nursing test bank questions related to endocrine system disorders.

Answer all the diabetes mellitus practice questions from our nursing test bank and test your competence in the nursing management of diabetes .

Practice questions about urinary system disorders.

Questions related to nursing care management of reproductive system disorders.

Integumentary Disorders

Practice questions related to integumentary system disorders.

All questions related to burn injury nursing care including a reviewer for the topic. In this nursing test bank, we’ll test your knowledge of  burn injury  nursing management concepts.

Updated nursing test bank questions related to fluids and electrolytes .

Nursing test bank and practice questions about cancer and oncology nursing.

Nursing test bank questions related to emergency nursing and triage.

Nursing test banks related to eyes, ears, nose, throat, and sleep disorders.

Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Test Bank

Nursing test bank questions related to mental health and psychiatric nursing. Topics include concepts related to mental health and psychiatric nursing such as: psychiatric assessment and fundamentals of mental health and psychiatric nursing, care of patients with alzheimer’s disease, delirium , dementia , and more.

Questions related to the theories on growth and development (Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development, Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development, etc.)

The best questions and nursing test bank set to help you answer Therapeutic Communication questions.

Practice questions related to nursing leadership and management:

If you are looking for practice questions about nursing research, look no further!

Our updated set of nursing test bank questions for NCLEX-PN !

Reviewing nursing concepts for your exam is just one part. You’ll need to learn how to answer the questions correctly too. Here are some test-taking tips :

• Nursing Exam Cram Sheet for NCLEX-RN
• 20 NCLEX Tips and Strategies Every Nursing Students Should Know
• My NCLEX Experience: Study Tips and Resources for Nursing Students
• 6 Easy Ways on How Nurses Can Master the Art of Delegation
• 8-Step Guide to ABG Analysis: Tic-Tac-Toe Method
• 5 Principles in Answering Therapeutic Communication Questions
• 12 Tips to Answer NCLEX Select All That Apply (SATA) Questions
• 10 Effective NCLEX Test Taking Strategies and Tips
• 10 Brilliant Tips to Overcome Test Anxiety
• 11 Test Taking Tips & Strategies For Nurses

Nursing test banks are an essential tool for any nursing student looking to excel on their exams. Nursing test banks are the key to success in advancing your nursing career, we hope this comprehensive guide have provided you all the information you need to excel.

Recommended books and resources for your NCLEX success:

Disclosure: Included below are affiliate links from Amazon at no additional cost from you. We may earn a small commission from your purchase. For more information, check out our privacy policy .

Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination is often referred to as the best nursing exam review book ever. More than 5,700 practice questions are available in the text. Detailed test-taking strategies are provided for each question, with hints for analyzing and uncovering the correct answer option.

Strategies for Student Success on the Next Generation NCLEX® (NGN) Test Items Next Generation NCLEX®-style practice questions of all types are illustrated through stand-alone case studies and unfolding case studies. NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (NCJMM) is included throughout with case scenarios that integrate the six clinical judgment cognitive skills.

Saunders Q & A Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination This edition contains over 6,000 practice questions with each question containing a test-taking strategy and justifications for correct and incorrect answers to enhance review. Questions are organized according to the most recent NCLEX-RN test blueprint Client Needs and Integrated Processes. Questions are written at higher cognitive levels (applying, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, and creating) than those on the test itself.

NCLEX-RN Prep Plus by Kaplan The NCLEX-RN Prep Plus from Kaplan employs expert critical thinking techniques and targeted sample questions. This edition identifies seven types of NGN questions and explains in detail how to approach and answer each type. In addition, it provides 10 critical thinking pathways for analyzing exam questions.

Illustrated Study Guide for the NCLEX-RN® Exam The 10th edition of the Illustrated Study Guide for the NCLEX-RN Exam, 10th Edition. This study guide gives you a robust, visual, less-intimidating way to remember key facts. 2,500 review questions are now included on the Evolve companion website. 25 additional illustrations and mnemonics make the book more appealing than ever.

NCLEX RN Examination Prep Flashcards (2023 Edition) NCLEX RN Exam Review FlashCards Study Guide with Practice Test Questions [Full-Color Cards] from Test Prep Books. These flashcards are ready for use, allowing you to begin studying immediately. Each flash card is color-coded for easy subject identification.

73 thoughts on “Nursing Test Bank and Nursing Practice Questions for Free”

Mr Vera you are super awesome. What others are using to make money, you are providing for free. You are giving your time and energy free but for a good cause. And I can assure you that you will be rewarded in one way or another. Thanks for all you do.

Thank you for your kind words, John.

Thank you, so much bodie !!!!!

I was wondering whenever you have time, could you update with questions for med surg musculoskeletal. There isn’t any practice questions on your page and I along with other nursing students would appreciate it. Thank you!

Hi Tiara, please check out Musculoskeletal Disorders NCLEX Practice Quiz (70 Questions)

Can you please do the necessary things urgently… since yesterday when u update regarding nursing test bank , when I click the quiz button it’s not uopening..I m studying for exams

It’s working on our end and I’ve checked with several browsers. Could you please clear your browser cache and try again? Thank you!

Hi, I’m looking at the Misc Nursing Test Banks (specifically wanted to study eye and ear) and the links for those do not work (just reloads the page). Everything else I clicked on appeared to work, but not the 3 under that heading. This is a great resource regardless! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this :)

Sorry, but those set of nursing test bank questions were being updated during that time. You can find the updated version of that article here: EENT and Sleep Disorders Nursing Test Bank

HI, Thank you so much for a great website. Kindly, can you please provide questions on medical surgical musculoskeletal disorders?

Hi Dorsa, please check out Musculoskeletal Disorders NCLEX Practice Quiz (70 Questions)

I wish I would have known about Nurseslabs sooner! (senior nursing student here) This is an amazing resource. Thank you for putting this FREE website together Matt!!

you guys are the best , for the people are behind this great free website , YOU GUYS ARE ANGELS AND SO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE THANK YOU SOO MUCH <3

I’m wanting immunity and hematologic questions to review but not sure….what to look under. Normally these are separate categories and I can’t find any listed here. Cardio doesn’t seem to have hematology listed under it…I’m lost. Help!

Hi Lori, check out Hematologic Disorders and Anemia NCLEX Practice Exam #2 it’s under the cardio quiz part 2. For the rest of the quizzes, please visit Nursing Test Bank and Nursing Practice Questions for Free .

Hi , Iam looking for infection, inflammation and immunity where do I find it?

Helloo Matt Vera, Thank you so much for being here for Us (Nurses). I was wondering if you can also upload Questions on Musculoskeletal Disorders, we need them also. Thanks!

Hello Matt, Please I’m studying Liver problems, Cholecystectomy, and Pancreas please can you upload practices questions on these topics? Thank you so much for all your help. Best regards.

Hi Bell, they’re under the Gastrointestinal Disorders nursing test bank . Hope this helps!

Hi Matt Thank you so much. You are a blessing.

These questions are very informative and help breakdown why each answer choice is either correct or incorrect. Thank you for adding more information on that. The best part is that it is free and its a great adjunct to nursing school and other NCLEX study materials

Glad to be of help! :)

Hi Nurseslabs, your practice questions helped a lot on preparing me for my NCLEX retake. I have passed and weirdly enough, I have encountered questions which were actually in here during my successful exam. Thanks soooo much. :)

Thank you so much, this is amazing, I have got an eye opener, I was almost giving up in my career of Nursing but you have renewed my energy, by providing a more simplified approach to various issues be blessed Vera

I’m so happy this website is still active, and now many are using it. I used this back in 2013 for my NCLEX. Now I’m back again for my NCLEX. Everything we need is here. I wonder why it’s still for free, most review sites will charge you for this, and this is even better

Hi, would you be having test questions for A & P 1 or could you direct me to a website that has A & P questions. Otherwise, this is a great website and I can wait to use it after I’m done with my prerequisites

Check out the study guide and quizzes on Anatomy and Physiology here .

This is really an amazing thing that you are doing. I come to this website for study but just realized last week that it actually has some practice questions which I did and it was so helpful in my recent test. Thank you so much, I will spread the word because it is FREE!

Thanks so much! :)

Good website, but please do you have any questions for nursing theory?

Hi Agnes, Sorry, we don’t have practice questions related to nursing theory. The closest quiz we have is related to nursing research: https://nurseslabs.com/nursing-research-nclex-nursing-test-bank-questions/ We hope this helps!

I thank God for the developer of this website. I used it from the moment I discovered it in January 2022 for two months until I was scheduled to take my NLCEX-PN on 3/02/22. Study with this free online tool paid off. I passed my test and was awarded my license today. I tell everyone I know who is scheduled to take their NCLEX to stop wasting their money on sites that don’t deliver and go to Nurseslabs.com. It was the best choice I made and hope other will too.

Thanks to whoever came up with this platform. It’s really helping. Humbled Almighty God bless you all

I am looking for topics in pathophysiology, where do I find that ?

Hi Kelsey, there is no specific quiz about pathophysiology but you can try our NCLEX-RN practice questions. You can also visit our Nursing Notes & Study Guides section for a pathophysiology guide and nursing management.

I love everything

I thank you for your help good job, god bless you

I am a Registered ICU Clinical Nurse in the USA, but this Nurseslabs page and content, allowed me to PASS my NMC Licensure exams in the UK, thank you kindly Matt Vera and his Team. ]

Hi, Matt. I appreciate you for making this and for giving it out for FREE. Unbelievable! Planning to use this material for my NCLEX for the 2nd time. I failed the 1st one. I purchased a lot of reviewers and paid huge fees. Hope this one will work for me.

The fact that this site really does this for students who can’t afford these expensive nursing resources is amazing. I’ve used this throughout nursing school. I wish there was a donate button, but they truly deserve people to donate to them.

Thanks for your support to medical students. You are really amazing guys. Love from India

Thank you very much Mr Vera, God bless you for your great contribution to the nursing community.

Thanks so much for your great contribution to the nursing community

Can you please update the musculoskeletal med surge quiz

Hi Caleb, please check out Musculoskeletal Disorders NCLEX Practice Quiz (70 Questions)

Thank you for helping us pass the hour test without the headache.

The app is so amazing and impressive

Hello, I see the feature during practice exams to review the question and rationale per question has been removed. Is this a permanent change? It was very useful when doing these exams with students to be able to get real-time feedback and for them to understand right and wrong.

Hello Reed, Thank you for your feedback. We made the change since the previous setup was overloading our servers and causing downtimes. Rest assured that the answers and rationales will still show after the whole quiz is completed. We’re actively exploring ways to reintroduce or offer an alternative to the feature. Apologies for the inconvenience, and we appreciate your understanding. May I know which quizzes are you using?

Good day,pls update about the nursing reaearch.l hope it can help me alot.thank u in advance for sharing ur bank test😄😄😄

Appreciate the efforts, dedication & passion you have to enable us to succeed. Would prefer to have the answers along or at the end of the test so that we can come to a conclusion as to the score & the knowledge in a particular area.

Hello, where can i go to practice exam on this site? I cannot see the link anymore what I only see are table of contents. Thanl you!

Thank you so much Matt for the good work you do. Really appreciate. I noticed there are no quiz or note on Community Health Nursing. Please can you help with that?

Hi Kolade, you’re right. We do have one but it’s super outdated. Will note your suggestion for a CHN quiz. In the meantime, please visit our NCLEX-RN test banks since those have questions related to CHN. Thank you!

Love this site and it has been so helpful with school, but now that we have to complete an entire quiz is not helpful in studying. Our modules are sometimes all over the place and its difficult to get through multiple 25-75 question quizzes. the real-time feedback was an amazing feature and unfortunately i won’t be using nurselabs as much with the change.

Hello C Green, Sorry for the inconvenience. We’ve made temporary changes from the previous setup since it was overloading our servers leading to frequent downtimes. As of this writing, we’re rolling out new exam modes for some of our test banks: Challenge Exam Mode and Practice Exam Mode.

Practice Exam Mode is your go-to for building confidence and getting cozy with the core concepts, thanks to real-time feedback during the exam. On the flip side, Challenge Exam Mode is here to put your mastery to the test with a robust question set to assess your understanding, get you prepped for real-deal exams, and see where you stand. And oh, now there’s a leaderboard and timer to spice up the challenge even more!

Do you by any chance cover reviews for dialysis nurse certification as it is getting confusing looking for one. Thanks.

Hi Alex, check out the quizzes under Urinary Disorders Nursing Test Bank here . Under Quiz #4, we cover questions related to dialysis.

I am totally Agree with you This is very informative Thanks for posting this useful information.

I’m glad to hear that you found the information informative and useful!

Hi No question bank for Behavioral psychology???

Check out the questions related to Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing. We don’t have a specific quiz about it, sorry!

Dear Nurseslabs.com

You are helping so many budding nurses. Thank you so much.

Sincerely Tricia

Thanks so much Tricia for your kind words! It’s really heartwarming to hear that we’re making a difference for budding nurses like you. If there’s anything specific you need help with or if you have suggestions for what you’d like to see more of, don’t hesitate to let us know. We’re here to support you on your nursing journey!

Desde Puerto Rico, Muchas Gracias!! Gracias por tan gran gesto, lleno de empatía. Gracias por crear una plataforma como esta, sin cargo económico, gracias por el espacio y la oportunidad de permitir que usemos la plataforma de forma abierta. Actualmente la utilizo en preparación para tomar Nclex-RN. Dios los bendiga mucho y les multiplique todo lo que hacen con el corazón. ********************************************************************************************* From Puerto Rico, Thank you very much!! Thank you for such a great gesture, full of empathy. Thank you for creating a platform like this, without financial burden, thank you for the space and the opportunity to allow the use of the platform in an open way. I am currently using it in preparation for taking Nclex-RN. May God bless you very much and multiply everything you do with your heart.

Hi Yazmin, Thank you so much for your heartfelt message all the way from Puerto Rico! It’s incredibly rewarding to hear that Nurseslabs is assisting you in your preparation for the NCLEX-RN. We’re passionate about providing accessible, high-quality resources to support aspiring nurses like you, especially without the financial burden.

Your kind words and blessings mean a lot to us. It’s feedback like yours that fuels our commitment to continue creating and sharing valuable content.

Best of luck with your NCLEX-RN preparation – I’m confident you’re going to do great! Remember, we’re here to support you every step of the way. May God bless you too in all your endeavors.

If you need any more resources or have questions as you prepare, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Do you have any test banks relating to the topic of upper and lower gastrointestinal problems

Hi Laura, Absolutely! For test banks specifically on upper and lower gastrointestinal problems, please check out our Gastrointestinal System Nursing Test Banks . They should provide a good range of questions covering various aspects of GI disorders. If you need anything more specific or have other topics in mind, just let me know. Happy to help you find what you need!

Hi do you have a NGN Questions and a NCLEX computerized style of answering?

My exam is next week. I just found out about this website. Which will help me most practicing “comprehensive exams or subject exams”? or just the challenging exams? Thank you for making this. God bless!

An ad between each answer choice? This is wild. I understand the use and need for ads, but the placement is terrible.

Hi Diana, I’m really sorry about that. The ad placement you mentioned was indeed a mistake with our latest update from the ad provider. We totally get how frustrating that must have been, and we’ve since fixed the issue to ensure a smoother and more user-friendly experience.

Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention. We’re always aiming to improve, and feedback like yours is invaluable in that process. If you notice anything else that seems off or have further suggestions, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

Again, our apologies for the inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding.

I need my certificates please i was study COURSE for nursing in caregiver please assist me.

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The Value of Critical Thinking in Nursing

• How Nurses Use Critical Thinking
• How to Improve Critical Thinking
• Common Mistakes

Some experts describe a person’s ability to question belief systems, test previously held assumptions, and recognize ambiguity as evidence of critical thinking. Others identify specific skills that demonstrate critical thinking, such as the ability to identify problems and biases, infer and draw conclusions, and determine the relevance of information to a situation.

Nicholas McGowan, BSN, RN, CCRN, has been a critical care nurse for 10 years in neurological trauma nursing and cardiovascular and surgical intensive care. He defines critical thinking as “necessary for problem-solving and decision-making by healthcare providers. It is a process where people use a logical process to gather information and take purposeful action based on their evaluation.”

“This cognitive process is vital for excellent patient outcomes because it requires that nurses make clinical decisions utilizing a variety of different lenses, such as fairness, ethics, and evidence-based practice,” he says.

How Do Nurses Use Critical Thinking?

Successful nurses think beyond their assigned tasks to deliver excellent care for their patients. For example, a nurse might be tasked with changing a wound dressing, delivering medications, and monitoring vital signs during a shift. However, it requires critical thinking skills to understand how a difference in the wound may affect blood pressure and temperature and when those changes may require immediate medical intervention.

Nurses care for many patients during their shifts. Strong critical thinking skills are crucial when juggling various tasks so patient safety and care are not compromised.

Jenna Liphart Rhoads, Ph.D., RN, is a nurse educator with a clinical background in surgical-trauma adult critical care, where critical thinking and action were essential to the safety of her patients. She talks about examples of critical thinking in a healthcare environment, saying:

“Nurses must also critically think to determine which patient to see first, which medications to pass first, and the order in which to organize their day caring for patients. Patient conditions and environments are continually in flux, therefore nurses must constantly be evaluating and re-evaluating information they gather (assess) to keep their patients safe.”

The COVID-19 pandemic created hospital care situations where critical thinking was essential. It was expected of the nurses on the general floor and in intensive care units. Crystal Slaughter is an advanced practice nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU) and a nurse educator. She observed critical thinking throughout the pandemic as she watched intensive care nurses test the boundaries of previously held beliefs and master providing excellent care while preserving resources.

“Nurses are at the patient’s bedside and are often the first ones to detect issues. Then, the nurse needs to gather the appropriate subjective and objective data from the patient in order to frame a concise problem statement or question for the physician or advanced practice provider,” she explains.

Top 5 Ways Nurses Can Improve Critical Thinking Skills

We asked our experts for the top five strategies nurses can use to purposefully improve their critical thinking skills.

Case-Based Approach

Slaughter is a fan of the case-based approach to learning critical thinking skills.

In much the same way a detective would approach a mystery, she mentors her students to ask questions about the situation that help determine the information they have and the information they need. “What is going on? What information am I missing? Can I get that information? What does that information mean for the patient? How quickly do I need to act?”

Consider forming a group and working with a mentor who can guide you through case studies. This provides you with a learner-centered environment in which you can analyze data to reach conclusions and develop communication, analytical, and collaborative skills with your colleagues.

Practice Self-Reflection

Rhoads is an advocate for self-reflection. “Nurses should reflect upon what went well or did not go well in their workday and identify areas of improvement or situations in which they should have reached out for help.” Self-reflection is a form of personal analysis to observe and evaluate situations and how you responded.

This gives you the opportunity to discover mistakes you may have made and to establish new behavior patterns that may help you make better decisions. You likely already do this. For example, after a disagreement or contentious meeting, you may go over the conversation in your head and think about ways you could have responded.

It’s important to go through the decisions you made during your day and determine if you should have gotten more information before acting or if you could have asked better questions.

During self-reflection, you may try thinking about the problem in reverse. This may not give you an immediate answer, but can help you see the situation with fresh eyes and a new perspective. How would the outcome of the day be different if you planned the dressing change in reverse with the assumption you would find a wound infection? How does this information change your plan for the next dressing change?

Develop a Questioning Mind

McGowan has learned that “critical thinking is a self-driven process. It isn’t something that can simply be taught. Rather, it is something that you practice and cultivate with experience. To develop critical thinking skills, you have to be curious and inquisitive.”

To gain critical thinking skills, you must undergo a purposeful process of learning strategies and using them consistently so they become a habit. One of those strategies is developing a questioning mind. Meaningful questions lead to useful answers and are at the core of critical thinking .

However, learning to ask insightful questions is a skill you must develop. Faced with staff and nursing shortages , declining patient conditions, and a rising number of tasks to be completed, it may be difficult to do more than finish the task in front of you. Yet, questions drive active learning and train your brain to see the world differently and take nothing for granted.

It is easier to practice questioning in a non-stressful, quiet environment until it becomes a habit. Then, in the moment when your patient’s care depends on your ability to ask the right questions, you can be ready to rise to the occasion.

Practice Self-Awareness in the Moment

Critical thinking in nursing requires self-awareness and being present in the moment. During a hectic shift, it is easy to lose focus as you struggle to finish every task needed for your patients. Passing medication, changing dressings, and hanging intravenous lines all while trying to assess your patient’s mental and emotional status can affect your focus and how you manage stress as a nurse .

Staying present helps you to be proactive in your thinking and anticipate what might happen, such as bringing extra lubricant for a catheterization or extra gloves for a dressing change.

By staying present, you are also better able to practice active listening. This raises your assessment skills and gives you more information as a basis for your interventions and decisions.

Use a Process

As you are developing critical thinking skills, it can be helpful to use a process. For example:

• Ask questions.
• Gather information.
• Implement a strategy.
• Evaluate the results.
• Consider another point of view.

These are the fundamental steps of the nursing process (assess, diagnose, plan, implement, evaluate). The last step will help you overcome one of the common problems of critical thinking in nursing — personal bias.

Common Critical Thinking Pitfalls in Nursing

Your brain uses a set of processes to make inferences about what’s happening around you. In some cases, your unreliable biases can lead you down the wrong path. McGowan places personal biases at the top of his list of common pitfalls to critical thinking in nursing.

“We all form biases based on our own experiences. However, nurses have to learn to separate their own biases from each patient encounter to avoid making false assumptions that may interfere with their care,” he says. Successful critical thinkers accept they have personal biases and learn to look out for them. Awareness of your biases is the first step to understanding if your personal bias is contributing to the wrong decision.

New nurses may be overwhelmed by the transition from academics to clinical practice, leading to a task-oriented mindset and a common new nurse mistake ; this conflicts with critical thinking skills.

“Consider a patient whose blood pressure is low but who also needs to take a blood pressure medication at a scheduled time. A task-oriented nurse may provide the medication without regard for the patient’s blood pressure because medication administration is a task that must be completed,” Slaughter says. “A nurse employing critical thinking skills would address the low blood pressure, review the patient’s blood pressure history and trends, and potentially call the physician to discuss whether medication should be withheld.”

Fear and pride may also stand in the way of developing critical thinking skills. Your belief system and worldview provide comfort and guidance, but this can impede your judgment when you are faced with an individual whose belief system or cultural practices are not the same as yours. Fear or pride may prevent you from pursuing a line of questioning that would benefit the patient. Nurses with strong critical thinking skills exhibit:

• Learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of other nurses
• Look forward to integrating changes that improve patient care
• Treat each patient interaction as a part of a whole
• Evaluate new events based on past knowledge and adjust decision-making as needed
• Solve problems with their colleagues
• Are self-confident
• Acknowledge biases and seek to ensure these do not impact patient care

An Essential Skill for All Nurses

Critical thinking in nursing protects patient health and contributes to professional development and career advancement. Administrative and clinical nursing leaders are required to have strong critical thinking skills to be successful in their positions.

By using the strategies in this guide during your daily life and in your nursing role, you can intentionally improve your critical thinking abilities and be rewarded with better patient outcomes and potential career advancement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Critical Thinking in Nursing

How are critical thinking skills utilized in nursing practice.

Nursing practice utilizes critical thinking skills to provide the best care for patients. Often, the patient’s cause of pain or health issue is not immediately clear. Nursing professionals need to use their knowledge to determine what might be causing distress, collect vital information, and make quick decisions on how best to handle the situation.

How does nursing school develop critical thinking skills?

Nursing school gives students the knowledge professional nurses use to make important healthcare decisions for their patients. Students learn about diseases, anatomy, and physiology, and how to improve the patient’s overall well-being. Learners also participate in supervised clinical experiences, where they practice using their critical thinking skills to make decisions in professional settings.

Do only nurse managers use critical thinking?

Nurse managers certainly use critical thinking skills in their daily duties. But when working in a health setting, anyone giving care to patients uses their critical thinking skills. Everyone — including licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced nurse practitioners —needs to flex their critical thinking skills to make potentially life-saving decisions.

Meet Our Contributors

Crystal Slaughter, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, CNE

Crystal Slaughter is a core faculty member in Walden University’s RN-to-BSN program. She has worked as an advanced practice registered nurse with an intensivist/pulmonary service to provide care to hospitalized ICU patients and in inpatient palliative care. Slaughter’s clinical interests lie in nursing education and evidence-based practice initiatives to promote improving patient care.

Jenna Liphart Rhoads, Ph.D., RN

Jenna Liphart Rhoads is a nurse educator and freelance author and editor. She earned a BSN from Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing and an MS in nursing education from Northern Illinois University. Rhoads earned a Ph.D. in education with a concentration in nursing education from Capella University where she researched the moderation effects of emotional intelligence on the relationship of stress and GPA in military veteran nursing students. Her clinical background includes surgical-trauma adult critical care, interventional radiology procedures, and conscious sedation in adult and pediatric populations.

Nicholas McGowan, BSN, RN, CCRN

Nicholas McGowan is a critical care nurse with 10 years of experience in cardiovascular, surgical intensive care, and neurological trauma nursing. McGowan also has a background in education, leadership, and public speaking. He is an online learner who builds on his foundation of critical care nursing, which he uses directly at the bedside where he still practices. In addition, McGowan hosts an online course at Critical Care Academy where he helps nurses achieve critical care (CCRN) certification.

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Critical Thinking: The Development of an Essential Skill for Nursing Students

Ioanna v. papathanasiou.

1 Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly, Greece

Christos F. Kleisiaris

2 Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Greece

Evangelos C. Fradelos

3 State Mental Hospital of Attica “Daphne”, Greece

Katerina Kakou

Lambrini kourkouta.

4 Nursing Department, Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece

Critical thinking is defined as the mental process of actively and skillfully perception, analysis, synthesis and evaluation of collected information through observation, experience and communication that leads to a decision for action. In nursing education there is frequent reference to critical thinking and to the significance that it has in daily clinical nursing practice. Nursing clinical instructors know that students face difficulties in making decisions related to clinical practice. The main critical thinking skills in which nursing students should be exercised during their studies are critical analysis, introductory and concluding justification, valid conclusion, distinguish of facts and opinions, evaluation the credibility of information sources, clarification of concepts and recognition of conditions. Specific behaviors are essentials for enhancing critical thinking. Nursing students in order to learn and apply critical thinking should develop independence of thought, fairness, perspicacity in personal and social level, humility, spiritual courage, integrity, perseverance, self-confidence, interest for research and curiosity. Critical thinking is an essential process for the safe, efficient and skillful nursing practice. The nursing education programs should adopt attitudes that promote critical thinking and mobilize the skills of critical reasoning.

1. INTRODUCTION

Critical thinking is applied by nurses in the process of solving problems of patients and decision-making process with creativity to enhance the effect. It is an essential process for a safe, efficient and skillful nursing intervention. Critical thinking according to Scriven and Paul is the mental active process and subtle perception, analysis, synthesis and evaluation of information collected or derived from observation, experience, reflection, reasoning or the communication leading to conviction for action ( 1 ).

So, nurses must adopt positions that promote critical thinking and refine skills of critical reasoning in order a meaningful assessment of both the previous and the new information and decisions taken daily on hospitalization and use of limited resources, forces you to think and act in cases where there are neither clear answers nor specific procedures and where opposing forces transform decision making in a complex process ( 2 ).

Critical thinking applies to nurses as they have diverse multifaceted knowledge to handle the various situations encountered during their shifts still face constant changes in an environment with constant stress of changing conditions and make important decisions using critical thinking to collect and interpret information that are necessary for making a decision ( 3 ).

Critical thinking, combined with creativity, refine the result as nurses can find specific solutions to specific problems with creativity taking place where traditional interventions are not effective. Even with creativity, nurses generate new ideas quickly, get flexible and natural, create original solutions to problems, act independently and with confidence, even under pressure, and demonstrate originality ( 4 ).

The aim of the study is to present the basic skills of critical thinking, to highlight critical thinking as a essential skill for nursing education and a fundamental skill for decision making in nursing practice. Moreover to indicate the positive effect and relation that critical thinking has on professional outcomes.

2. CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

Nurses in their efforts to implement critical thinking should develop some methods as well as cognitive skills required in analysis, problem solving and decision making ( 5 ). These skills include critical analysis, introductory and concluding justification, valid conclusion, distinguishing facts and opinions to assess the credibility of sources of information, clarification of concepts, and recognition conditions ( 6 , 7 ).

Critical analysis is applied to a set of questions that relate to the event or concept for the determination of important information and ideas and discarding the unnecessary ones. It is, thus, a set of criteria to rationalize an idea where one must know all the questions but to use the appropriate one in this case ( 8 ).

The Socratic Method, where the question and the answer are sought, is a technique in which one can investigate below the surface, recognize and examine the condition, look for the consequences, investigate the multiple data views and distinguish between what one knows and what he simply believes. This method should be implemented by nurses at the end of their shifts, when reviewing patient history and progress, planning the nursing plan or discussing the treatment of a patient with colleagues ( 9 ).

The Inference and Concluding justification are two other critical thinking skills, where the justification for inductive generalizations formed from a set of data and observations, which when considered together, specific pieces of information constitute a special interpretation ( 10 ). In contrast, the justification is deduced from the general to the specific. According to this, nurse starts from a conceptual framework–for example, the prioritization of needs by Maslow or a context–evident and gives descriptive interpretation of the patient’s condition with respect to this framework. So, the nurse who uses drawing needs categorizes information and defines the problem of the patient based on eradication, nutrition or need protection.

In critical thinking, the nurses still distinguish claims based on facts, conclusions, judgments and opinions. The assessment of the reliability of information is an important stage of critical thinking, where the nurse needs to confirm the accuracy of this information by checking other evidence and informants ( 10 ).

The concepts are ideas and opinions that represent objects in the real world and the importance of them. Each person has developed its own concepts, where they are nested by others, either based on personal experience or study or other activities. For a clear understanding of the situation of the patient, the nurse and the patient should be in agreement with the importance of concepts.

People also live under certain assumptions. Many believe that people generally have a generous nature, while others believe that it is a human tendency to act in its own interest. The nurse must believe that life should be considered as invaluable regardless of the condition of the patient, with the patient often believing that quality of life is more important than duration. Nurse and patient, realizing that they can make choices based on these assumptions, can work together for a common acceptable nursing plan ( 11 ).

3. CRITICAL THINKING ENHANCEMENT BEHAVIORS

The person applying critical thinking works to develop the following attitudes and characteristics independence of thought, fairness, insight into the personal and public level, humble intellect and postpone the crisis, spiritual courage, integrity, perseverance, self-confidence, research interest considerations not only behind the feelings and emotions but also behind the thoughts and curiosity ( 12 ).

Independence of Thought

Individuals who apply critical thinking as they mature acquire knowledge and experiences and examine their beliefs under new evidence. The nurses do not remain to what they were taught in school, but are “open-minded” in terms of different intervention methods technical skills.

Impartiality

Those who apply critical thinking are independent in different ways, based on evidence and not panic or personal and group biases. The nurse takes into account the views of both the younger and older family members.

Perspicacity into Personal and Social Factors

Those who are using critical thinking and accept the possibility that their personal prejudices, social pressures and habits could affect their judgment greatly. So, they try to actively interpret their prejudices whenever they think and decide.

Humble Cerebration and Deferral Crisis

Humble intellect means to have someone aware of the limits of his own knowledge. So, those who apply critical thinking are willing to admit they do not know something and believe that what we all consider rectum cannot always be true, because new evidence may emerge.

Spiritual Courage

The values and beliefs are not always obtained by rationality, meaning opinions that have been researched and proven that are supported by reasons and information. The courage should be true to their new ground in situations where social penalties for incompatibility are strict. In many cases the nurses who supported an attitude according to which if investigations are proved wrong, they are canceled.

Use of critical thinking to mentally intact individuals question their knowledge and beliefs quickly and thoroughly and cause the knowledge of others so that they are willing to admit and appreciate inconsistencies of both their own beliefs and the beliefs of the others.

Perseverance

The perseverance shown by nurses in exploring effective solutions for patient problems and nursing each determination helps to clarify concepts and to distinguish related issues despite the difficulties and failures. Using critical thinking they resist the temptation to find a quick and simple answer to avoid uncomfortable situations such as confusion and frustration.

Confidence in the Justification

According to critical thinking through well motivated reasoning leads to reliable conclusions. Using critical thinking nurses develop both the inductive and the deductive reasoning. The nurse gaining more experience of mental process and improvement, does not hesitate to disagree and be troubled thereby acting as a role model to colleagues, inspiring them to develop critical thinking.

Interesting Thoughts and Feelings for Research

Nurses need to recognize, examine and inspect or modify the emotions involved with critical thinking. So, if they feel anger, guilt and frustration for some event in their work, they should follow some steps: To restrict the operations for a while to avoid hasty conclusions and impulsive decisions, discuss negative feelings with a trusted, consume some of the energy produced by emotion, for example, doing calisthenics or walking, ponder over the situation and determine whether the emotional response is appropriate. After intense feelings abate, the nurse will be able to proceed objectively to necessary conclusions and to take the necessary decisions.

The internal debate, that has constantly in mind that the use of critical thinking is full of questions. So, a research nurse calculates traditions but does not hesitate to challenge them if you do not confirm their validity and reliability.

4. IMPLEMENTATION OF CRITICAL THINKING IN NURSING PRACTICE

In their shifts nurses act effectively without using critical thinking as many decisions are mainly based on habit and have a minimum reflection. Thus, higher critical thinking skills are put into operation, when some new ideas or needs are displayed to take a decision beyond routine. The nursing process is a systematic, rational method of planning and providing specialized nursing ( 13 ). The steps of the nursing process are assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation. The health care is setting the priorities of the day to apply critical thinking ( 14 ). Each nurse seeks awareness of reasoning as he/she applies the criteria and considerations and as thinking evolves ( 15 ).

Problem Solving

Problem solving helps to acquire knowledge as nurse obtains information explaining the nature of the problem and recommends possible solutions which evaluate and select the application of the best without rejecting them in a possible appeal of the original. Also, it approaches issues when solving problems that are often used is the empirical method, intuition, research process and the scientific method modified ( 16 ).

Experiential Method

This method is mainly used in home care nursing interventions where they cannot function properly because of the tools and equipment that are incomplete ( 17 ).

Intuition is the perception and understanding of concepts without the conscious use of reasoning. As a problem solving approach, as it is considered by many, is a form of guessing and therefore is characterized as an inappropriate basis for nursing decisions. But others see it as important and legitimate aspect of the crisis gained through knowledge and experience. The clinical experience allows the practitioner to recognize items and standards and approach the right conclusions. Many nurses are sensing the evolution of the patient’s condition which helps them to act sooner although the limited information. Despite the fact that the intuitive method of solving problems is recognized as part of nursing practice, it is not recommended for beginners or students because the cognitive level and the clinical experience is incomplete and does not allow a valid decision ( 16 ).

Research Process / Scientifically Modified Method

The research method is a worded, rational and systematic approach to problem solving. Health professionals working in uncontrolled situations need to implement a modified approach of the scientific method of problem solving. With critical thinking being important in all processes of problem solving, the nurse considers all possible solutions and decides on the choice of the most appropriate solution for each case ( 18 ).

The Decision

The decision is the selection of appropriate actions to fulfill the desired objective through critical thinking. Decisions should be taken when several exclusive options are available or when there is a choice of action or not. The nurse when facing multiple needs of patients, should set priorities and decide the order in which they help their patients. They should therefore: a) examine the advantages and disadvantages of each option, b) implement prioritization needs by Maslow, c) assess what actions can be delegated to others, and d) use any framework implementation priorities. Even nurses make decisions about their personal and professional lives. The successive stages of decision making are the Recognition of Objective or Purpose, Definition of criteria, Calculation Criteria, Exploration of Alternative Solutions, Consideration of Alternative Solutions, Design, Implementation, Evaluation result ( 16 ).

The contribution of critical thinking in decision making

Acquiring critical thinking and opinion is a question of practice. Critical thinking is not a phenomenon and we should all try to achieve some level of critical thinking to solve problems and make decisions successfully ( 19 - 21 ).

It is vital that the alteration of growing research or application of the Socratic Method or other technique since nurses revise the evaluation criteria of thinking and apply their own reasoning. So when they have knowledge of their own reasoning-as they apply critical thinking-they can detect syllogistic errors ( 22 – 26 ).

5. CONCLUSION

In responsible positions nurses should be especially aware of the climate of thought that is implemented and actively create an environment that stimulates and encourages diversity of opinion and research ideas ( 27 ). The nurses will also be applied to investigate the views of people from different cultures, religions, social and economic levels, family structures and different ages. Managing nurses should encourage colleagues to scrutinize the data prior to draw conclusions and to avoid “group thinking” which tends to vary without thinking of the will of the group. Critical thinking is an essential process for the safe, efficient and skillful nursing practice. The nursing education programs should adopt attitudes that promote critical thinking and mobilize the skills of critical reasoning.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: NONE DECLARED.

How To ACE Nursing Fundamentals (+ Critical Thinking Tips!)

Skills , Study Tips and Getting Organized , Test Taking Tips , Uncategorized

Are you worried about nursing school and not sure how to tackle it?

This video will walk you through, step-by-step, how to ACE nursing fundamentals.

The study tips I will share will help you figure out exactly what you need to focus on to save time studying!

You are going to LOVE these nursing study tips to help you ACE this term in nursing school!

Here’s a quick breakdown of the Nursing School Critical Thinking Model (DRC):

D:  Definition/Description What is it? What’s the description of it?

R: Reason/Rationale Why does it happen? Why does it matter?

C: Connection How does it connect to everything else you’re learning?

Oxygen Administration:

D: Giving supplemental oxygen to your patient. Can be at various concentrations and flow rates based on patient needs.

R: Oxygen is given when the patient can’t get enough oxygen themselves. Possibly because they aren’t able to get oxygen in (ventilation), or they can’t circulate it through their body (perfusion).

C: Nursing Assessment: assess mucous membranes, lips and skin, check respiratory rate, look for labored or trouble breathing, listen to lungs.

RELATED VIDEOS: 

How To PASS Nursing School

How I Got Straight A’s in Nursing School

How To Take Notes

How I Made Nursing School Easier

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: 

Are you freaked out about nursing school and not sure what to expect or how to pass? In this video, I’m going to walk you through my step-by-step process for how to ace your nursing fundamentals class. I’m not kidding you, these tips I’m going to share will help you figure out exactly WHAT to focus your study time on, how to learn it faster, and how to critically think along the way. This might just be the most important video you ever watch in nursing school, so be sure to stick around until the end, because I’m about to blow your mind. Now like this video, hit that subscribe button, click the notification bell, and let’s dive in.

So if you remember from THIS video, I shared my top tips for how I got straight A’s in nursing school. But being honest, that wasn’t an easy road. There was a LOT of trial and error that went into figuring out exactly how to study. I came home much every day with a headache, and felt like quitting pretty much all the time in that first term of nursing school. I cried all those tears, so you don’t have to.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about WHY I got straight A’s in nursing school, when other students struggled to make it. It’s not that I’m special, gifted, or super talented. I know my husband can give you a whole LIST of things I’m terrible at. Starting with keeping ANY plant alive for an extended period of time…

And those are just a few of the casualties we’ve had over the years…

I am not special. But here’s what I DO know.

I followed a particular critical thinking model, even before I created it and recognized what it was. This is a Model that I created to help walk you through, step-by-step, how to critically think in nursing school. In a few minutes, I’m going to walk you through this Model for how to study in nursing school so that you can ACE your fundamentals class.

But first, I want to put your mind at ease and walk through exactly what you can expect in your fundamentals class. I’ve received a LOT of questions about this over the past few weeks from our NursingSOS Members, and I know you’re probably a little freaked out about it too. So if you’re heading into nursing fundamentals, listen up.

Here’s how it will go: you’ll have your main lecture class where you’ll learn all of the basic concepts. The main thing you’ll learn about is the nursing assessment and the nursing process. I have a deep dive video on the nursing process HERE for you to check out after this video.

So along with the nursing process, you’ll learn about things like fluid and electrolyte balance, how to take vital signs, infection control practices, how to write care plans and how to document in a patient’s chart.

Don’t worry, we cover many of those topics here on our YouTube channel. I’ll put all the links in the description for you to check out.

Now along with this lecture class, you’ll also most likely have a skills lab class and a clinical class that go along with it for you to be able to practice all of these things. During skills lab, you’ll probably get to use mannequins and supplies in your school’s simulation lab so it’s like you’re taking care of real patient’s, without the fear of a real patient judging you or putting you at risk to hurt someone. It’s important to practice your skills FIRST before doing them in real life. You’ll practice your nursing assessment, learn how to give medications, and maybe practice some basic skills like giving vaccines.

And then during your clinical class, you’ll finally be able to practice all of your assessment skills on a REAL LIVE PERSON. How exciting!!! So don’t worry, friend, take a breath, trust yourself, and do the best you can.

It took me the better part of a clinical day to assess my first patient in nursing school, because I kept forgetting things and having to go back into her room and ask her more questions. Man, that was rough. So don’t worry, if you’re super nervous, you are NOT alone. I was right there with you!

So that is generally what you can expect for your nursing fundamentals. Make sure you practice as much as you can in the skills lab so that you’re prepared for clinical.

Now, let’s talk about how to study in your nursing fundamentals class. I’ve created a Critical Thinking Model that you can use again and again for every topic you’re studying. It will walk you through, step-by-step, how to study in nursing school.

Following this Model will be the difference between getting a C on an exam and getting an A. So pay attention, take notes, and let’s change your life.

The Critical Thinking Model goes like this: DRC. The “D” stands for definition or description. The “R” stands for reason or rationale, and the “C” stands for connection.

So let’s write this out and go through and example to help it all come together. Because seriously, friend, this is the KEY to success in nursing school. Follow this Model, and you will be GOLDEN.

The “D” stands for description or definition. What is it? What is it that you need to know about? What’s the description of it?

This is the high level stuff. Don’t worry, we’ll get to the critical thinking and the deep stuff in a minute. So stay with me.

So let’s take an example of giving oxygen to a patient. Giving oxygen and oxygen administration is absolutely something you’ll study during your fundamentals class. You HAVE to know it for nursing school and your clinicals.

So the definition and description of oxygen administration is that you are actually GIVING oxygen to your patient. You may give it at different levels or concentrations and through different ways. And if you want, you can write all of those down here as well in this category.

Now the second part of this process is the R, which stands for reasoning or rationale. This is where you’ll write about the WHY. Why does it happen, or why does it matter? This is the reasoning behind it. And in this section, I really want you to dig deep and focus on the underlying reason. This is the first step of critical thinking here. I’ll walk you through the next step in a minute, so stay with me, we’ll get there.

So in our example of giving oxygen, WHY do we give oxygen to a patient? Well, we give oxygen if a patient isn’t able to oxygenate themselves, either they aren’t able to get enough oxygen in, or they aren’t able to circulate it as well. So here I want you to dive into the pathophysiology behind it.

Listen, friend. If there is ONE reason that I got straight A’s in nursing school, it’s this: I dug deep. Constantly. I didn’t just learn the surface level stuff like everyone else. I used this model and practiced my critical thinking skills over and over again. And THAT is what made me successful. Because when I got to my exam and it gave me a case scenario about oxygen administration, I didn’t just memorize the surface level stuff that the rest of my class focused on. I was way more prepared because I did the critical thinking and learned WHY it matters.

And that’s what I want you to do, too. To really dig deep and ask yourself WHY. Why do we give oxygen, why does it matter, and why is it important.

So that’s step number 2: reasoning or rationale. Why do we do it?

And now the 3rd step is the ultra critical thinking part, and this is the C: Connection. This is where you’ll write how it connects to the other things you’re learning. This is the HOW: How does it connect to everything else?

This is where you’ll really shine at your critical thinking skills, and where it will really start to show to your instructors that you know you stuff: when you can connect the dots and put it all together.

So in our example of giving oxygen, how does that connect to other things you’re learning about? So in your fundamentals class, you’ll be learning about the nursing assessment, and you’ll also learn about oxygenation and perfusion: how the body gets oxygen and how it circulates through the body to keep us alive.

If you want a deep dive into the nursing process and what the nursing assessment is, be sure to check THIS video out after you finish this video.

So this is the final part of critical thinking, being able to connect it all together with everything that you’re learning about. Don’t worry, I’m not going to leave you guessing on how to do this. Let’s keep our same example and walk through it together.

So when you give oxygen to a patient, there are a LOT of things you need to assess for before, during and after. You’ll look at things like their lips and mucous membranes to see if they have a blue tint to them, which could indicate a lack of oxygen. You’ll look at how they’re breathing and listen to their lungs. If they’re having difficulty breathing they may need to be on oxygen to increase their blood oxygen level. So walk through each of the nursing assessment components that relate to giving oxygen. How does giving oxygen affect the body?

You’ll also learn about oxygenation and perfusion in your fundamentals class, so how does giving oxygen affect that? Well, giving a patient oxygen will hopefully increase the amount of oxygen in their blood, it will get more oxygen to their brain and other vital organs to keep them happy.

Are you seeing how all of this connects together? This Critical Thinking Model is VITAL to follow in nursing school. Like I said before, practicing this will be the difference between getting an A and getting a B or a C on your exam.

Now I have a series of critical thinking questions for you to follow as you study as well. These will really help guide your learning and help you focus your studying even more. I do a deep dive into these question in THIS video here, and I’ve also got a free cheat sheet that outlines them too. So be sure to download that, the link is in the description below.

Phew, friend, I know that was a LOT of information right here. I really wanted to do a deep dive video for you to give you everything you needed to succeed in your Fundamentals Class.

So if you found this deep dive training SUPER helpful, write LOVE in the comments to let me know, and tell me the date your start your nursing program, or if you’re already in nursing school, tell me the month and year you’ll be graduating. I am super pumped for you and your nursing school journey, and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to help you through it.

And of course, if you want more help with Nursing Fundamentals, make sure to join the NursingSOS Membership Community where we are currently releasing a brand new fundamentals course. I’m so excited! You are going to LOVE it!

Now click on the next video to help you keep rocking nursing school, and go become the nurse that God created only YOU to be. I’ll see you over there friend. Take care!

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A Crash Course in Critical Thinking

What you need to know—and read—about one of the essential skills needed today..

Posted April 8, 2024 | Reviewed by Michelle Quirk

• In research for "A More Beautiful Question," I did a deep dive into the current crisis in critical thinking.
• Many people may think of themselves as critical thinkers, but they actually are not.
• Here is a series of questions you can ask yourself to try to ensure that you are thinking critically.

Conspiracy theories. Inability to distinguish facts from falsehoods. Widespread confusion about who and what to believe.

These are some of the hallmarks of the current crisis in critical thinking—which just might be the issue of our times. Because if people aren’t willing or able to think critically as they choose potential leaders, they’re apt to choose bad ones. And if they can’t judge whether the information they’re receiving is sound, they may follow faulty advice while ignoring recommendations that are science-based and solid (and perhaps life-saving).

Moreover, as a society, if we can’t think critically about the many serious challenges we face, it becomes more difficult to agree on what those challenges are—much less solve them.

On a personal level, critical thinking can enable you to make better everyday decisions. It can help you make sense of an increasingly complex and confusing world.

In the new expanded edition of my book A More Beautiful Question ( AMBQ ), I took a deep dive into critical thinking. Here are a few key things I learned.

First off, before you can get better at critical thinking, you should understand what it is. It’s not just about being a skeptic. When thinking critically, we are thoughtfully reasoning, evaluating, and making decisions based on evidence and logic. And—perhaps most important—while doing this, a critical thinker always strives to be open-minded and fair-minded . That’s not easy: It demands that you constantly question your assumptions and biases and that you always remain open to considering opposing views.

In today’s polarized environment, many people think of themselves as critical thinkers simply because they ask skeptical questions—often directed at, say, certain government policies or ideas espoused by those on the “other side” of the political divide. The problem is, they may not be asking these questions with an open mind or a willingness to fairly consider opposing views.

When people do this, they’re engaging in “weak-sense critical thinking”—a term popularized by the late Richard Paul, a co-founder of The Foundation for Critical Thinking . “Weak-sense critical thinking” means applying the tools and practices of critical thinking—questioning, investigating, evaluating—but with the sole purpose of confirming one’s own bias or serving an agenda.

In AMBQ , I lay out a series of questions you can ask yourself to try to ensure that you’re thinking critically. Here are some of the questions to consider:

• Why do I believe what I believe?
• Are my views based on evidence?
• Have I fairly and thoughtfully considered differing viewpoints?
• Am I truly open to changing my mind?

Of course, becoming a better critical thinker is not as simple as just asking yourself a few questions. Critical thinking is a habit of mind that must be developed and strengthened over time. In effect, you must train yourself to think in a manner that is more effortful, aware, grounded, and balanced.

For those interested in giving themselves a crash course in critical thinking—something I did myself, as I was working on my book—I thought it might be helpful to share a list of some of the books that have shaped my own thinking on this subject. As a self-interested author, I naturally would suggest that you start with the new 10th-anniversary edition of A More Beautiful Question , but beyond that, here are the top eight critical-thinking books I’d recommend.

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark , by Carl Sagan

This book simply must top the list, because the late scientist and author Carl Sagan continues to be such a bright shining light in the critical thinking universe. Chapter 12 includes the details on Sagan’s famous “baloney detection kit,” a collection of lessons and tips on how to deal with bogus arguments and logical fallacies.

Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments Into Extraordinary Results , by Shane Parrish

The creator of the Farnham Street website and host of the “Knowledge Project” podcast explains how to contend with biases and unconscious reactions so you can make better everyday decisions. It contains insights from many of the brilliant thinkers Shane has studied.

Good Thinking: Why Flawed Logic Puts Us All at Risk and How Critical Thinking Can Save the World , by David Robert Grimes

A brilliant, comprehensive 2021 book on critical thinking that, to my mind, hasn’t received nearly enough attention . The scientist Grimes dissects bad thinking, shows why it persists, and offers the tools to defeat it.

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know , by Adam Grant

Intellectual humility—being willing to admit that you might be wrong—is what this book is primarily about. But Adam, the renowned Wharton psychology professor and bestselling author, takes the reader on a mind-opening journey with colorful stories and characters.

Think Like a Detective: A Kid's Guide to Critical Thinking , by David Pakman

The popular YouTuber and podcast host Pakman—normally known for talking politics —has written a terrific primer on critical thinking for children. The illustrated book presents critical thinking as a “superpower” that enables kids to unlock mysteries and dig for truth. (I also recommend Pakman’s second kids’ book called Think Like a Scientist .)

Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters , by Steven Pinker

The Harvard psychology professor Pinker tackles conspiracy theories head-on but also explores concepts involving risk/reward, probability and randomness, and correlation/causation. And if that strikes you as daunting, be assured that Pinker makes it lively and accessible.

How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion and Persuasion , by David McRaney

David is a science writer who hosts the popular podcast “You Are Not So Smart” (and his ideas are featured in A More Beautiful Question ). His well-written book looks at ways you can actually get through to people who see the world very differently than you (hint: bludgeoning them with facts definitely won’t work).

A Healthy Democracy's Best Hope: Building the Critical Thinking Habit , by M Neil Browne and Chelsea Kulhanek

Neil Browne, author of the seminal Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking, has been a pioneer in presenting critical thinking as a question-based approach to making sense of the world around us. His newest book, co-authored with Chelsea Kulhanek, breaks down critical thinking into “11 explosive questions”—including the “priors question” (which challenges us to question assumptions), the “evidence question” (focusing on how to evaluate and weigh evidence), and the “humility question” (which reminds us that a critical thinker must be humble enough to consider the possibility of being wrong).

Warren Berger is a longtime journalist and author of A More Beautiful Question .

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Critical Thinking Nursing Interview Questions

Critical thinking nursing interview questions feature prominently in any interview. They aren’t supposed to trip you up, but they will do just that if you aren’t ready.

Along with your nursing school application cover letter and your nursing school letter of intent , your nursing school interview questions give you an opportunity to show an admissions board, in your own words, how perfect you are for nursing school.

This article will show you how to take that opportunity and maximally utilize it to your advantage. We will go through what exactly a critical thinking question is, why they are being asked, and what types of responses you can give. Finally, we will cover several sample answers so that you can prepare your own answers for your upcoming interview.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 7 min read

Why are critical thinking questions asked.

While critical thinking questions may relate to aspects of healthcare and nursing, including patient care, working as part of a team, and response to emergencies, they may also deal with dilemmas that have nothing to do with healthcare. For example, you may be faced with a conflict of interest scenario, or an ethical dilemma with a close friend.

Essentially, you’re being tested on your decision-making processes and how you solve problems, whether they are healthcare related or not. Your interviewer is trying to find out if you think logically, quickly, and in ways that provide good solutions in real-world scenarios.

Critical thinking is important to any job, but is of particular importance to nursing. Any healthcare professional deals with immense challenges on a daily basis. These challenges come up with little warning and require clearheaded responses.

Because the question is looking for your decision-making processes, you need to make sure that your responses put those processes in the limelight. Therefore, your answers should focus on the steps of how you made your decision and the why behind those steps: in other words, how you arrived at that response. You should show off how you evaluate situations and respond, but also how you concluded that your response was the most logical course of action.

Even if the question you are asked is hypothetical or situational, as we like to call it, you can definitely use your personal experiences to answer. Make sure to demonstrate non-judgmental attitude and objectivity when making your decision.

With nursing school interview questions, expert responses are required.

Let’s look at a sample critical thinking question and an expert response.

Prompt: Describe the most stressful event of your life. Why was it stressful, and how did you handle the situation?

Example: I\u2019m not saying it was easy, but that organization made things much more straightforward, and it helped to keep my mind calm and disciplined in all that chaos. I learned how to not only balance all of these disparate elements of my life, but that I could use the very act of balancing as a calming influence. "}]">

Nurses often have to deal with hostile patients. Can you recall a time you had to deal with hostility? What did you do and what were the results?

Sample answer:

I was working in a supporting role at a psychiatric institution, and one of the patients was a very angry person. He had a very quick temper and would often be physically violent, in addition to uncooperative or verbally abusive. The nurses said that giving meds felt like playing Russian roulette.

So, I would always make sure that I was around for that patient’s med time, ready to call security if he became violent.

He didn’t like taking his pills, either. One day, I was speaking with him and I discovered that his anger over medication was coming from a lack of understanding; he didn’t fully know what the pills did. So, I talked to his nurse about it, and she went over the reasons for his particular drugs and their side-effects. I also let his physician know about his concerns so that the doctor could have a conversation about it at her next visit in.

Once those issues had been dealt with, medication was much easier to distribute. It didn’t solve all the problems, but it helped make his days a lot smoother.

Critical thinking questions can be daunting and difficult, but they can also show some of your best talents and establish your abilities in a very concrete way. These aren’t abstract. These are demonstrations of actual actions taken. Use these questions to show off your impressive side with a committee.

The focus is the main difference, and with a critical thinking question, that focus is on how you use problem-solving and decision-making in different scenarios. They are to get a sense of how you deal with challenges and obstacles on a day-to-day basis.

Contrast this to more open-ended questions like “Tell us a little bit about yourself,” or “ Why do you want to be a nurse? ”

Fairly compact; you should answer in less than a minute.

Use just enough language to set up the problem you faced, your thought processes on how to deal with those problems, the actions you took, and the outcomes that those actions produced. This can be done in a fairly swift amount of time.

That doesn’t mean you should skimp on detail. While the interviewers don’t need every small thing that happened, they shouldn’t be confused or feel like they’re missing anything. Remember to showcase your abilities – don't brush past them: highlight!

Use mock interviews as part of your nursing school interview preparation to hone your answers for time and detail.

The most important reason is that you will wind up sounding robotic and insincere.

Additionally, the critical thinking questions might be slight variants, so a memorized answer could (or will) end up not quite fitting the question.

Better to memorize scenarios than words so that you can apply those examples to any question that comes up.

You can, and sometimes are directly asked to provide an example of failure.

If an interviewer asks you to describe a time you failed at implementing critical thinking, of course you must supply them with something, and should prepare for such questions in their own right.

Remember that they are looking for your decision-making processes and skills, so the outcome might have been bad, but if your processes were excellent, the interviewer will make note of that. Sometimes even good decisions lead to negative outcomes – sometimes that’s inevitable.

If you failed to apply good critical thinking in a situation, you can highlight what you learned from the experience and how it has improved subsequent actions and decision-making processes.

Failure is only truly failure if no lessons were learned.

You can take a short pause to think, and give yourself enough time to recall an appropriate event or incident. It’s important to research the different types of nursing school interview questions and prepare a relevant story for a variety of scenarios.

While it is unlikely that you will be asked about something that you can’t relate to at all (most of the questions are broad enough to allow some sort of connection) it might happen that you just haven’t had a given experience yet.

You can’t just say, “That’s never happened to me,” and leave it at that.

However, you might want to acknowledge this by saying, “That exact thing has never happened to me, but I have had a similar experience,” and speak of the closest thing you have to what was asked. Perhaps it wasn’t a work or healthcare setting, but maybe something that happened with family members or friends in a social setting, for instance – that will do.

Get as close as you can to the question, acknowledge the discrepancy, and answer to the best of your ability.

Expect anything, because depending on the interview, almost anything can be covered.

Even the type of interview can change, depending on the school. Some will use a traditional panel-style interview, but others will use the multiple mini-interview (MMI) format. If the latter, you might want to learn more about how to prepare for your multiple mini interview .

What exactly is in the interview depends on the school and panel, so be ready for anything.

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Critical Thinking Test: Online Preparation & Free Practice Questions – 2024

• Information
• Free Example Questions

What Is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking is a form of decision making and reasoning using data and observations. Someone who is a strong critical thinker can find quality solutions efficiently and can evaluate issues objectively.

What Is a Critical Thinking Test?

Critical thinking tests provide companies valuable insight into the leadership, reasoning, and overall capabilities of candidates. Because strong critical thinking skills are highly sought after, the critical thinking test can be applicable to any field and discipline across multiple levels of expertise from recent graduate to executive. However, it is commonly administered to those applying for criminal justice and business-related occupations.

Job seekers with upcoming critical thinking tests will be evaluated on more than their ability to rationalize, critical thinking tests also measure the following subsets:

• Organizing & Planning
• Strategizing
• Decision Making
• Problem Solving

The format of the critical thinking uses hypothetical scenarios to assess candidates. The scenarios are typically relevant to the field you are interested in to assess your knowledge of the role. There will also be general questions concerning more basic issues or problems that commonly occur in a workplace environment.

The critical thinking test is multiple-choice with thirty minutes to complete the assessment. Candidates will receive a notification stating whether or not they passed within a week of completion.

How Is the Critical Thinking Test Scored?

The critical reasoning test is scored based on your raw score and your percentile in comparison with your norm group. It’s important to note that these will not be the same number.

A norm group is a collection of scores from individuals in your field at your level of experience. The percentile score is used to alert employers if you exceed, meet or miss the benchmark for the average expectations of candidates. You will be rated on a scale of one to one hundred with fifty consisting of the mean and median scores.

A raw score is simply the number of correct answers. The critical thinking test comprises your raw score based on the performance in the following areas:

• Recognizing Assumptions The candidate must be able to understand when a statement is made with no supporting evidence and how this can affect a decision. Further, candidates are asked to identify these discrepancies, whether they are stated explicitly or implicitly, and assess its relevance to the given scenario.
• Evaluating Arguments Candidates must evaluate arguments without considering inferences or being subjective. Beyond that, candidates must assess the supporting evidence, the structure of the argument and the degree of its influence. It is very important to dismiss emotions for this portion of the critical thinking test.
• Drawing Conclusions Drawing conclusions puts a large emphasis on reasoning. In this section, it’s important to assess all of the available evidence and data to form a plausible conclusion that accurately applies to all the given information. Employers also want to see candidates that will consider all possible solutions rather than making the evidence fit a desired narrative.

Employers will receive all of this information in a performance report construed by the assessment company. Employers will also be given insight into your overall potential, job knowledge, creativity and job performance per the report.

Where Will I Take a Critical Thinking Test?

Critical thinking tests are non-proctored online assessments that are typically sent via email after an initial screening. For some occupations, the company may ask that the candidate take the critical thinking test again on-site either before their final interview or during an assessment day. The most common test candidates are asked to take is the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) created by the popular assessment company, Pearson . This assessment company is on their third edition with new scoring and subsets described above. The WGCTA gained popularity because of its ability to assess a candidate’s potential alongside their aptitude. Another established assessment is the SHL Critical Reasoning Battery that contains sixty questions with a thirty-minute time limit. Both of the aforementioned critical thinking tests are multiple choice.

How to Prepare for the Critical Thinking Test?

The critical thinking test is difficult to study for because the test is designed to assess your bare knowledge and raw skills. In order to prepare successfully, it is important to focus on the areas of the test that you can equip yourself for. One aspect of the test that demands preparation is the time limit. Many candidates’ scores are negatively impacted because they skip or guess too many of the questions in an attempt to beat the clock. If you want to optimize your chances of achieving a good score, use online practice tests to acquaint yourself with the time constraint and the general theme of the questions. By utilizing the online practice tests, you can find the pace that works best for you. Another helpful way to prepare is running through sample questions. This way, you can warm-up your brain and gain an understanding of the expectations that both the test and the company have of you.

Free Sample Questions to Practice

• Look over her past quizzes to see what she missed.
• Set aside more time during the week to review the material for the quiz.
• Get to class on early Wednesday and briefly look over the chapters.
• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Parents should find an alternative way to get their kids to school next week.
• The premiums must be over-priced.
• Collective bargaining is no longer a feasible solution.
• Their employers are being unreasonable.
• People in Hawaii dislike living on an island.
• Colder climates induce more happiness than warmer climates.
• The high scores on the Alaska survey were produced by people who enjoy snow.
• People in Hawaii should move to Alaska.
• Jenny’s credit card was declined at the mall.
• Jenny’s bank keeps charging her $30 overdraft fees.
• Jenny’s check bounced when she attempted to purchase a new TV.
• Jenny spends more money than she makes.
• Lori has thirty cans of soda in a refrigerator in her garage and another fourteen sitting on the counter. Lori does not have anymore cans of soda. Therefore, Lori has 44 cans of soda.
• The accounting department loves math. My friend works in the accounting department. My friend loves math.
• Everyone southbound on the freeway yesterday was late to work. Jackie was southbound on the freeway. Jackie was late to work.
• Adrian lives in either Springfield, California, or Springfield, Illinois. If he lives in Illinois, then he is an American.

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