PURPOSE. To demonstrate use of critical thinking in the diagnostic process in order to achieve accuracy of nursing diagnoses.
METHODS. The 7 cognitive skills and 10 habits of mind identified as important for nursing in a Delphi study by Scheffer and Rubenfeld are applied to the diagnostic process using a published case study of a woman with heart failure.
FINDINGS. Taking into account all data from the case study and using the concepts of critical thinking, two high-accuracy nursing diagnoses were selected to guide nursing interventions.
CONCLUSIONS. Because the specific types of critical thinking needed for accurate diagnosing are not known, nurses should develop all 17 of the cognitive skills and habits of mind so these thinking abilities are available when needed.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. The 17 critical thinking concepts should be combined with domain knowledge, e.g., nursing diagnoses, to think about thinking, which will improve critical thinking processes.
AmicucciB. (2009). Response to limitations associated with cardiac disease. InLunneyM., Critical thinking to achieve positive health outcomes: Nursing case studies and analyses (pp.321–324). Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell.
2.
Carlson-CatalanoJ. (2001). A teaching method for diagnostic skill development. InLunneyM., Critical thinking and nursing diagnosis: Case studies and analysis (pp.44–65). Philadelphia: NANDA International.
3.
DegazonC.LunneyM. (1995). Clinical journal: A tool to foster critical thinking for competence in advanced practice. (Reprinted inCritical thinking and nursing diagnosis: Case studies and analysis, pp.304–312, byLunneyM., 2001, Philadelphia: NANDA International)
4.
HendersonV. (1978, 2006). The concept of nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 53 (1), 21–31. (Original work published 1978)
5.
LunneyM. (1992). Divergent productive thinking factors and accuracy of nursing diagnosis. (Reprinted inCritical thinking and nursing diagnosis: Case studies and analysis, pp.275–286, byLunneyM., 2001, Philadelphia: NANDA International)
6.
LunneyM. (2001). Research findings related to accuracy of diagnosing human responses. InLunneyM., Critical thinking and nursing diagnosis: Case studies and analyses (pp.29–43). Philadelphia: NANDA International.
7.
LunneyM. (2008a). Current knowledge related to intelligence and thinking with implications for the use and development of case studies. International Journal of Nursing Terminologies and Classifications, 19, 158–162.
