Critical thinking is thoughtful, rational thinking that makes an individual decide on what to do and what to believe in. Critical thinking is a vital constituent of nursing as a profession. Using critical thinking, an individual can consider perspectives included in the ways of justice and acting (Rubenfeld et al, 2010, p. 311). Several critical thinking habits of the mind are described below.
Confidence is being certain of one’s interpretation abilities. This is measured by looking at justifications given for questionable conclusions and observing situations where someone’s opinion changes one’s position. I am a self-confident person because I believe in my abilities and, therefore, when I decide to undertake a certain task, I normally do not look at the consequences it might entail (Rubenfeld et al, 2010, p. 311). When addressing a congregation, I have a continuous flow of information because I am not afraid of people and I trust myself.
Creativity is the academic resourcefulness used to discover, reorganize, or come up with alternatives to any idea. This is studied through observing tough situations that an individual has handled in the past, how such circumstances were handled, and how one acted when thinking outside the box to come up with solutions to the problems (Rubenfeld et al, 2010, p. 311). I believe I am a creative person. I handled a tough situation that was life-saving. It was a motorbike accident. I had to study the parameters briefly so then I gave a most relevant response to that situation within a very short time. Although it was my first time, a life was saved.
Intuition is the ability to insightfully know something with no prior knowledge. It arises through the development of a hunch in one’s thoughts about a situation. Open-mindedness is a situation where one is amenable to differing views and insightful to one’s biases. An individual’s assumptions about social issues are analyzed based on how judgmental the person is. One of my weakest areas is intuition. It is very hard for me to tell a plausible solution to a problem without critical thinking and thorough consideration (Rubenfeld et al, 2010, p. 312). I have never tried to imagine an account of a phenomenon unless I have the scientific facts. Therefore, it is almost impossible for me to try to handle a situation that I have not analyzed properly.
An individual who can follow a course with the resolve to conquer obstacles is perseverant. I cannot also persevere obstacles in the endeavor to achieve a certain goal. When I face obstacles while tackling a task, what I normally think of is quitting the task or changing the way the task is to be handled so that there are no obstacles on the way to its solving (Rubenfeld et al, 2010, p. 313).
Reflection arises when an individual contemplates an issue, principally assumptions of understanding and personal evaluation. Contextual perspective is a case where a whole state is well-thought-out including setting, associations, and surroundings related to an event (Sternberg, 2006, p. 4). An individual with the ability to adjust, modify, accommodate, or alter thoughts is said to be a flexible person. This can be deliberated through observing the adaptability of one’s mind to change, and what circumstances can foster a change of mind. An inquisitive person is enthusiastic about knowing. For a person to tell whether he or she possesses this trait, the motive in the questions a person asks is studied. Intellectual integrity is looking for the truth via sincere and open processes even though the outcomes are contradicting the beliefs and assumptions. (Rubenfeld et al, 2010, p. 312). If all these factors are well understood then an individual’s role in the nursing field will be well understood.
References
Rubenfeld, M. G., and Scheffer B. K. (2010). Critical thinking tactics for nurses: Achieving the IOM competencies. (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Sternberg, R. J. (2006). Creativity is a habit. Education Week, pp. 47, 64.